Doval's remark on Indo-Pak talks creates flutter

 A report in a Hindi daily quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval confirming cancellation of January 15 India-Pakistan Foreign Secretary level talks created flutter on Monday.

Doval claimed that he had never such a comment. The newspaper published the report on its online edition based on an interview with Prime Minister’s NSA. Doval later denied giving any such interview. 

The report in Hindi daily Dainik Bhaskar quoted Doval stating that the proposed meeting between Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart A A Chaudhry in Islamabad had been cancelled in the wake of the terrorist attack on Indian Air Force base at Pathankot in Punjab.

“I speak to journalists every day. But I do not remember giving any such interview. I strongly deny that I made such a statement,” media agency ANI quoted Doval in a report on Monday. The Dainik Bhaskar quoted Doval stating that India had cancelled the January 15 Indo-Pak Foreign Secretary level talks.

No peace talks
“No peace talks now till Pakistan takes action against Pathankot terrorists and India is satisfied with Pakistan’s efforts. There will be no talks before action,” Doval was quoted by the newspaper in the report published on its online edition.

Doval had shared with his counterpart and Pakistan Prime Minister M Nawaz Sharif’s National Security Advisor Naseer Khan Janjua information about the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror plotters, who had coordinated the attack in Pathankot.

India did not officially link Foreign Secretary level talks with Pakistan’s actions against JeM operatives responsible for masterminding and coordinating the attack in Pathankot.