NSA Doval tells Pakistan: Reject Abdul Basit`s statement or face consequences

The investigation into the Pathankot terror attack was not a question of `reciprocity` but that of `cooperation`, Basit had said.

New Delhi: A day after Pakistan's envoy to India Abdul Basit said that the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue remains 'suspended for now', National Security Advisor Ajit Doval dialled his Pakistani counterpart Naseer Khan Janjua on Friday and lodged a strong protest.

The telephonic conversation between Doval and Janjua happened late last night, a day after Basit also ruled out a visit by a team of India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) to Pakistan to probe the January 2 Pathankot Air Force base terror attack.

The investigation into the Pathankot terror attack was not a question of 'reciprocity' but that of 'cooperation', he had said.

As per reports in the Pakistani media, Doval told Janjua that the Pakistan government must clarify its stand and also reject its envoy's statement.

Islamabad's failure to do so could result in India toughening its stand on bilateral engagement with Pakistan.

Further, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Pakistan later this year for the SAARC Summit could also be put in jeopardy.

Janjua, on his part, reportedly told Doval that Pakistan was keen to continue the peace process and cooperate in the probe into the Pathankot terror attack.

Basit had also said that it was Pakistan which wanted peaceful ties but India was not cooperating.

He had further stated that the peace talks between the two countries remain suspended as India was not willing to hold comprehensive talks.

The remarks came just days after a Pakistani Joint Investigation Team (JIT) visited the Pathankot airbase to collect evidence and speak to witnesses of the terror attack.