India, Pakistan Foreign Secretaries to meet today; Pathankot, peace process on agenda

New Delhi: India and Pakistan Foreign Secretaries on Tuesday will meet at the Heart of Asia Istanbul Process conference aimed at bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, who is going to lead his country's delegation to the Senior Officials Meeting of the Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process, is expected to meet his Indian counterpart Subramaniam J Shankar, in the national capital.

New Delhi is expected to raise the Pathankot probe issue with Islamabad on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia senior officials' meeting on Afghanistan.

National Investigating Agency (NIA), during its interaction with the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) of Pakistan, had sought details about the place of residence of the terrorists (involved in Pathankot attack) whose names had been shared with the visiting probe team. However, there was no response from Pakistan on the India's request.

The five-member JIT also comprising an ISI officer had visited India from March 27 to April one during which they visited the air base and recorded statements of 16 witnesses.

Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists had carried out a terror attack on the intervening night of January one and two on the strategic IAF base in Pathankot. Seven security personnel were killed, while bodies of four terrorists were also recovered.

The Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process is a platform to discuss regional issues, including security, economic cooperation and connectivity among Afghanistan, its neighbours and regional countries with a view to promote lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Apart from India, the Heart of Asia initiative involves 13 other countries - Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates.