In view of the Pathankot attack, the BJP is anxious over pace of India-Pakistan talks. The leading part of the NDA has been forced to adopt a cautious instead of ultra nationalist stand on relations between two the neighbours due to PM Narendra Modi’s recent unannounced Lahore engagement.

BJP sources said the party is with NDA government’s renewed effort on India and Pakistan bilateral relations and explained that Narendra Modi stopover at Lahore to meet Nawaz Sharif was a move to bring peace among the neighbours.

The government, said party sources, will respond to perpetrators of terrorism “in their own language”, indicating a slight departure from its “terror and talks cannot go together” position it had always held in dealing with Pakistan-sponsored terror. The uneasiness in the BJP, as pointed out by leaders, was also due to the fact that this year it faces Assembly elections.