New Delhi: India on Friday said that it would decide at an “appropriate time” on India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) team’s visit to Pakistan in connection with the Pathankot strike, maintaining that investigations into the case are on in both the countries.
While asked about the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz remarks that they may consider allowing a visit by the NIA team, if India makes a formal request, the External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, “Pakistani JIT visit was held in a constructive and cooperative environment to investigate the Pathankot Air Base attack. We welcome cooperation to combat all forms of terrorism”. He said that the investigations are ongoing adding that we will consider the next step at an appropriate time”.
While asserting that the Indo-Pak dialogue was never suspended, Swarup said, “Multiple conversations have been held between India and Pakistan at multiple levels including at the level of the two prime ministers who spoke to each other quite recently. Obviously, after the Pathankot attack, the focus of the conversations is on the investigation of that particular attack”. He said that the other aspects of the relationships have also been discussed. He further said, “I have made statements and so has my Pakistani counterpart. So this should give you clarity that the dialogue process has not been suspended”.
Earlier this month, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit during an interaction with media had said that the dialogue process was suspended. While asked about the safety and security of Indian prisoners in Pakistan, Swarup said that India has asked Pakistan to take all necessary steps for ensuring safety, security and well being of all Indians in Pakistani custody especially in light of the mysterious death of Indian prisoner Kripal Singh in a jail there in Pakistan.
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