India, Pakistan talks not suspended, clarifies MEA; says Pak's JIT visit was "very constructive"

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday clarified that talks between India and Pakistan were not suspended, days after the Pakistani envoy here triggered a controversy over his remarks on the Indo-Pak dialogue.

The dialogue process with Pakistan has not been suspended and the visit of Pakistan's Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the Pathankot airbase attack was "very constructive", it said.

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.

"We welcome cooperation to combat terrorism in all its forms," he added.

Swarup also stressed that the dialogue process with Islamabad "has not been suspended".

Pakistan's envoy to New Delhi had created furore after he stated in the media that the dialogue process between the two countries has been suspended.

Islamabad blamed the Indian media for creating a "hype" over his remarks.

"Pakistan and India are two neighbours which must live in peace and harmony. The hype created by the Indian media over Mr (Abdul) Basit's remarks was neither warranted nor required," Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said at his weekly briefing.

"This question has been repeatedly asked and I will only add to what has been said earlier is that Pakistan will be ready to talk when India is ready. I would not enter into the debate of what words were used by both sides," Zakaria said while answering a question about Abdul Basit's remarks.