Once again Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan are expected to meet next month and the two sides are in touch for finalising the new dates amid some “forward movement”, as part of an effort to normalise relations. Though there was some “forward movement” the two sides are in touch over the issue of the talks and dates for the talks would be announced after mutual agreement. The proposed talks scheduled for 15th January, were deferred by both the countries mutually in the wake of the Pathankot terror attack. India has blamed Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) for the attack and has been seeking action against the terror outfit and its chief Masood Azhar. India had sought action by Pakistan on the evidence provided for apprehending the JeM terrorists suspected to have been involved in the 2nd January attack. India has linked the fate of the talks to action by Pakistan. The Pakistan stand makes things easier for India to corner its neighbour on terrorism, which it had been denying till date. If pursued diplomatically it can attract financial sanctions against that country which would help throttling the fund flow to terror outfits in India and sympathisers. So now the ball is in India’s court. JUD has been under UNSC sanction as an Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) alias since 2008. The compliance of sanctions requires Pakistan to freeze all its assets, put travel ban on its men and stoppage of Arms supply to the outfit. On the contrary except for assurances Pakistan has not taken any concrete steps. Indian security agencies have identified key figures who were involved in the conspiracy and wants Islamabad to act against them. The deadly strike on the Pathankot Air Base by suspected Pakistan-based militants has cast a cloud on the fate of dialogue. India expects Pakistan to act on “leads” it shared on the Pathankot attack. In turn, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has vowed action against those who planned the daring raid which killed seven Indian security men.
