Suspend Indo-Pak foreign secretary-level talks, says ex-NSA

Former national security adviser M.K. Narayanan on Saturday called for suspension of the upcoming foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan following the Pathankot terror attack and was critical of the decision to deploy NSG instead of the Army to defend the air base.

He also slammed the move to change commanding officers thrice during the attack, contending it was a cardinal rule not to change commanders during a battle. “There is an obsession, I think on the Indian side particularly, for talks,” he said, adding the upcoming foreign secretary-level talks have been invested with a certain level of glamour, which is totally uncalled for.

“If the reasons, I would say if the conditions are not fructuous then let us suspend it. I would not say call it off but suspend it. Wait and see what will happen,” he told a TV channel.

Mr Narayanan said Pakistan should take “decisive action” against top leadership of the JeM. However, he made it clear that this does not mean that there will be no more terror attacks. Wondering whether India was “looking for lollipops” from Pakistan, Mr Narayanan said, adding besides the NSA, the intelligence chiefs of the two countries should meet. He said the NSAs should also meet away from the media spotlight.

“Avoid high publicised talks,” he said noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Pakistan on December 25 was certainly not a game-changer.