Dialogue with Pakistan not suspended: India

India on Friday said the dialogue process with Pakistan was not suspended and the visit of Pakistan's Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the Pathankot airbase attack was "very constructive".

JIT's visit to Pathankot came in a "in a very constructive and cooperative environment", external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said at a media briefing here.

On a question about the status of the India-Pakistan dialogue, he stressed it "has not been suspended".

"Multiple conversations have been held between India and Pakistan at multiple levels including at the level of the two prime ministers who spoke to each other quite recently. Obviously, after the Pathankot terror attack, the focus of the conversations was on the investigation of that particular attack.

"However, other aspects of the relationships have also been discussed. I have made statements and so has my Pakistani counterpart. So this should give you clarity that the dialogue process has not been suspended," he added.

On being reminded that Pakistan has expressed its willingness to host an Indian investigative team in the case, Swarup said it will be considered "at an appropriate time".

He also said that India welcomes any move against terrorism. "We welcome cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms."

The talks at foreign secretary-level between India and Pakistan, planned for mid-January, got derailed after January 2 terror attack on the the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot.

--IANS

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