FS-level talks deferred; India agrees to Pak SIT visit

NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan today deferred their foreign secretary-level talks to “very near future” even as Government here welcomed the apprehending of Jaish-e- Mohammad (JeM) members linked to the Pathankot terror attack and agreed to the visit of a Pakistani SIT.

Detention of several members of JeM, said to be behind the Pathankot attack, is seen by India as an “important and positive first step” although apprehending of its chief Masood Azhar has not been confirmed by Pakistan.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar was scheduled to travel to Islamabad to hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary tomorrow but both the countries announced deferment of the talks with “mutual consent” to “very near future”.

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup told journalists that the statement issued by the Pakistan Government yesterday on the investigations into the Pathankot attack conveyed that “considerable progress” has been made in the probe against terrorist elements linked to the strike.

“The action taken against JeM is an important and positive first step. We also note that the Government of Pakistan considering to send a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the Pathankot terror attack. (AGENCIES)