Congress slams Govt. for messing ties with 'rogue state' Pak

The Congress Party on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government for messing up relations with a 'rogue state' Pakistan, adding that nothing better should be expected from the hostile neighbour.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told ANI Pakistan, understandably, is going to continue to be a rogue state.

"What worries me is how the Government of India, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has played into their hands. Firstly, we have legitimated them by inviting to Pathankot. Pathankot like invitation was never ever given in 70 years. Thirdly, having legitimated them, we got a slap on our face. Fourthly, we have equated the terror perpetrators with the victims," he added.

India has countered Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit's assertion that the visit by Pakistan's Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate the Pathankot terror attack was not on the basis of reciprocity.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that the Indian High Commission in Islamabad had formally conveyed to the Pakistan Foreign Ministry that the terms of reference of the JIT's visit are broadly agreed to with the condition that these would be on the basis of reciprocity.

Earlier, during a media interaction, the Pakistan High Commissioner had said the whole investigation by the JIT is not about the question of reciprocity but is more about extending cooperation to each other to get to the bottom of the incident.

Reacting to Basit's remarks that the peace process between India and Pakistan stands suspended, Swarup referred to Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria's press conference in which he had stated that both countries are in contact with each other and it has been reiterated from both sides that modalities are being worked out.