The ball is in Pakistan’s court after the Pathankot terrorist attack as better council prevails between the two countries. On a day of high-level diplomatic activity over the attack on the Pathankot airbase, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did talk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over phone and assured Islamabad’s support in investigating the leads provided by New Delhi, hours after their National Security Advisors spoke to each other. Acknowledging the urgency of the situation, Mr. Sharif placed the call from Colombo, during his state visit there, and the conversation indicated that both Prime Ministers were in favour of continuing the recently renewed diplomatic engagement. In the call that lasted about 15 minutes, Mr. Modi reportedly made it clear that the evidence from the attack on the air force base in Punjab led directly to a group in Pakistan. Prime Minister Modi strongly emphasised the need for Pakistan to take firm and immediate action against the organisations and individuals responsible for and linked to the Pathankot terrorist attack. Specific and actionable information in this regard has been provided to Pakistan. The peace talks may go as expected and we can think of of a stalemate soon.
C.K. Ramani
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
