FS meet not part of CBD, discussed possible NIA visit: India

Making it clear that the Indo-Pak FS-level meet was not part of the comprehensive dialogue,India today said they shared ideas to take forward the relationship including a possible visit of NIA to Pakistan, a “logical follow up” of their JIT’s visit to India.

“It was not a meeting to finalise the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue (CBD). Ideas were exchanged on how to take forward the relationship including the logical follow up of the Pakistan JIT and the ongoing investigation into the attack at Pathankot airbase.

“Both sides will reflect on those ideas. A relationship goes forward through such exchanges and let us remain hopeful,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

Asked whether NIA would visit Pakistan to take the probe into Pathankot attack case to a logical conclusion, Swarup said the two foreign secretaries had an “extensive discussion on probe into Pathankot attack and the JIT visit.”

“They had extensive discussions and they discussed about the logical next step that you are talking about,” he said when asked if the two foreign secretaries discussed a possible visit by NIA to Pakistan in connection with the Pathankot terror strike.

Swarup also noted that both sides have described the meeting as frank but constructive.

The decision to commence Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue between India and Pakistan was taken during External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Islamabad in December last where it was also agreed that the two Foreign Secretaries would meet to workout the modalities and schedule of the meetings under the Dialogue, he said.

“Since then the two foreign secretaries have been in touch. What happened the day before yesterday was a meeting between the two foreign secretaries on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia conference. It was not a meeting to finalise the CBD,” Swarup added.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry held talks on the sidelines of the conference during which they discussed sticky issues including terror and Kashmir.