Pak in touch with India on finalising dates for FS-level talks

Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday said that it is in touch with India on finalising dates for the postponed Foreign Secretary-level talks. "Both sides are in touch regarding the date of Foreign Secretary-level talks.

We will let you know when it is finalised," Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said today during weekly briefing. The agenda of the talks will be discussed after date for the Foreign Secretary-level talks is finalised, he said.

India and Pakistan last month mutually agreed to a short deferment of Foreign Secretary-level talks after the Pathankot terror attack.

Talking about the visa controversy relating to actor Anupam Kher, he said High Commissioner in India spoke to the actor and offered him a visa to attend the Literature Festival to which he was invited.

"However, Kher replied that he would not be able to visit Pakistan due to other commitments," the spokesman said. Responding to a question, Khalilullah said the dossiers on India's alleged involvement in fomenting terrorism in Pakistan have already been shared with the US and the UN.

To another query, he said that questions about Dawood Ibrahim have been asked several times in the past and reiterated Pakistan's position that he was not present in the country.

"You may be aware that Indian authorities have admitted at the Ministerial level that Dawood Ibrahim's whereabouts were not known to them," he said.

Ahead of Solidarity day being observed in Pakistan on Friday to support right of self-determination of people of Kashmir, Khalilullah said, "India continues to violate the human rights of and brutalise Kashmiris in the occupied Kashmir.

Pakistan has always condemned these atrocities." "Kashmir Solidarity Day, to be observed tomorrow, reminds us of the Indian atrocities and the need for Kashmir dispute to be resolved in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions and aspirations of the people of Kashmir," he said.

Khalilullah also said the meeting of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group on Afghanistan talks was scheduled for February 6 and will be held in Islamabad as planned.

He said Pakistan and Afghanistan were in touch at various levels regarding the use of Afghan soil by certain elements involved in the terrorist attack on Bacha Khan university.

The spokesman said that Pakistan does not differentiate between good and bad terrorists and it was at the heart of Operation Zarb-e-Azb against militants.