Air of anger, disappointment and disquiet needs to be cleared before talks with Pak: Khurshid

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Tuesday said that a decision on pursuing talks with Pakistan has not been reached yet as the Government is still in a state of shock, disappointment and anger over the violence along the Line of Control (LoC) from the other side.

"It is not possible for me to respond in the given atmosphere today. There is a lot of sense of disappointment and if I use the term, advisedly being used by the Opposition, there's anger; there is disquiet to say the least," Khurshid said.

"I think the air needs to get clear before we can start giving clear responses to many, many things which are half done and that were in the pipeline. Today is not the day. I think we first need to get back to normal and there are steps to be taken on the other side-on the Pakistani side-before we can start addressing these issues (decisions regarding talks)," Khurshid added.

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Khurshid also said that India cannot pursue talks until and unless there is an atmosphere of peace and harmony along the LoC which, he said, is of utmost importance given the incidents of the past week.

"We should have a satisfaction that there is a peaceful atmosphere in which we can consider different dimensions of our relationship. ...We are still in a state of shock and a state of grieving, this is no time to talk what might happen in the future. When the time comes, I am sure that will be addressed," Khurshid said.

Earlier today, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin echoed Khurshid's sentiment, saying that a peaceful dialogue with Paksitan will only take place if there is an environment free of violence and terror, which opposes the multiple incidents along the Line of Control (LoC) in the past week.

"For a peaceful dialogue to proceed, we need an environment free of violence and terror. Certainly, what has happened last week does not fit into that. ...We have factored all subsequent developments also and we will take a call on this (talks) in due time and ahead of when it is required to be responded to," MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.

"In the current context, and the events of the last week, we see that the upholding of the sanctity of the LoC is vital. ...Unfortunately, unprovoked incidents along the LoC naturally have consequences over bilateral relations. We expect Pakistan to abide by its publicly stated commitment, not to allow its territory or territories under its control to be used for terror or terrorism and violence against India. We also look forward to determined action to be undertaken to dismantle the terrorist networks and infrastructure, as well as tangible movement in bringing to justice quickly those involved in the Mumbai terrorists attacks of November, 2008," Akbaruddin added.

Relations between India and Pakistan have been extremely tense in the last week after six Indian soldiers were ambushed in Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir on August 6.

Additionally, Pakistan has violated the ceasefire along the LoC multiple times.

In the last 48-hours, Pakistan has violated the ceasefire five times along the LoC.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was scheduled to meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in New York in September, but there have been doubts cast over pursuing talks after the Indo-Pak relationship has been strained along the border.