Pak, India secretary- level talks may be deferred

ISLAMABAD: The foreign secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India could be deferred by New Delhi for a few weeks in the wake of the Pathankot airbase attack of early this month that killed seven Indian personnel including one Indian Army colonel. 

Highly-placed diplomatic sources told ‘The News’ here on Sunday that Pakistan hasn’t been informed till the evening about the visit of the Indian foreign secretary to Islamabad slated for January 15. It is likely that India would notify the postponement at the eleventh hour some time next week.

Pakistan’s High Commissioner in New Delhi Abdul Basit Khan has yet to dispatch his assessment of the situation with regard to the Indian thinking. No communication has taken place between the two capitals on this count ever-since Pathankot episode. 

India is trying to establish fresh contact through national security advisers (NSAs) as next step but that too will take some days, the sources added. Pakistan doesn’t want that the talks on the foreign secretary level should be derailed since it would pave the way for Comprehensive Composite Dialogue of the two countries covering all outstanding disputes, including Kashmir. 

The open indulgence by the United States of last week could compel India to stick to its earlier commitment for resumption of talks, the sources opined. “Pakistan will welcome and prepare the Indian foreign secretary if he opts to come to Islamabad on the agreed schedule as the Foreign Office has already completed its homework in this regard,” the sources confided to this scribe.