Talks on terror can go ahead: India told Pakistan in NSA-level talks

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met his Pakistani counterpart Lt Gen Nasser Khan Janjua (retd) in Thailand last month.

During the NSA-level talks, India reiterated its stand to Pakistan that terrorism and talks cannot go together and raised the issue of cross-border firing, the MEA said.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the focus of talks between India and Pakistan was on cross-border terror. 

"India and Pakistan have a dialogue process and we have said terror and talks cannot go together. However, there are other dialogue mechanisms like at the DGMO level or between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers.

"Similarly, the NSA-level engagement is part of operational-level talks. We have said terror and talks cannot go together, but talks on terror can definitely go ahead," Kumar said.

India today made it clear that for talks with Pakistan to go ahead, there has to be a conducive environment and atmosphere free of terror.