ISLAMABAD: Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Gautam Bambawale Monday said that India-Pakistan Foreign Secretary level talks are not conditional to the investigation of Pathankot Airbase attack.
Talking to media at a seminar on Pak-India trade, the Indian High Commissioner said that the foreign secretary level talks between India and Pakistan will be held soon but the date is yet to be finalised.
“I cannot give any particular date for the secretary level talks, but foreign secretaries from both countries are in constant contact,” explained the Indian envoy.
He said the foreign secretaries and national security advisers of the two countries are in touch.
The ambassador said that the talks are not linked with the ongoing investigation into the Pathankot air base attack.
The statement has come at a time when the tensions between the two countries are high after the Pathankot Airbase attack in Indian Punjab.
Indian High Commissioner stressed upon measures to improve bilateral trade. Bambawale said that India had no issues with Pak-Afghan relations.
He added that economic cooperation would help India and Pakistan come closer. “Trade and economic interdependence should be developed between both sides,” he said. “It will reduce the danger of confrontation.”
Bambawale further said immigration process between both states also needs to be made easy. “Citizens of both countries travelling to the neighbouring state would help build trust.”
However, he refused to comment upon Pakistani High Commissioner in New Delhi Abdul Basit’s statement about Siachen.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had said the government wants to send a team of special investigators to the Pathankot airbase in India for further investigation, and to probe any possible involvement of Pakistan based individuals.
A special investigation team set up by Pakistan to probe the deadly assault on an Indian airbase last month found no evidence implicating the leader of the group India blamed for the attack, Pakistani security officials said last week.
According to sources, both sides are in touch over resuming the stalled dialogue process. The dates are expected to be announced soon.
