Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: India has informed Pakistan that ‘some progress’ in the investigation of Pathankot Airbase attack is a prerequisite to resume bilateral dialogue.

Diplomatic sources told Daily Times the message was conveyed to Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry by his Indian counterparty S Jaishankar.

The two foreign secretaries held a 90-minute one-on-one meeting on the margins of Heart of Asia Senior Officials’ meeting in New Delhi on April 27. After the meeting, both officials announced that no breakthrough had taken place.
Sources said the two sides were earlier willing to issue a joint statement to allay the speculations by hostile media of both countries. “In the end, both sides played to their respective people and issued statements depicting their own narratives,” sources explained.

The optimists thought the meeting might lead to progress towards the start of comprehensive bilateral dialogue agreed between the two countries in December last year. “I would not say there is a breakthrough, but we conveyed our concerns forthrightly,” Chaudhry then told journalists.

Pakistan wanted structured, sustained and result-oriented comprehensive dialogue process to resolve Kashmir dispute. It has been urging upon India to conduct a fair trial in case of 2007 Samjhauta Express attack.
Chaudhry also expressed deep concerns over the involvement of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadev, arrested a few months ago from Balochistan.

No date was announced for the upcoming visit of Indian foreign secretary to Pakistan for discussing a timetable of the comprehensive dialogue. “A relationship goes forward through such exchanges and let’s remain hopeful,” Indian spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

Sources said the Indian government asked Pakistani foreign secretary to dispatch a progress report of the joint investigation team (JIT) that recently visited Pathankot Airbase. It also wanted immediate action against Jaish-e-Muhammad and other banned outfits, which were allegedly involved in this as well as previous terror attacks inside India.
The Indian government also wanted consular access to Kulbhushan Yadev.

Sources said the Chaudhry informed his Indian counterpart about the so-far action the government of Pakistan had taken against Masood Azhar and ilk. He, however, did not commit anything regarding consular access to Yadev.
Sources said the Modi administration had found Pakistan’s National Security Advisor Lt Gen (r) Nasir Janjua ‘a man to work with’. Perhaps, because of his military background and his apparent proximity to the military establishment, the Indian government believed he could deliver better than his civilian colleagues in the Foreign Office of Pakistan.