India Likely to Hold Talks With Pakistan Despite Air Base Attack

India is in favor of Foreign Secretary level talks with Pakistan, which is likely to be held on 15 January in Islamabad despite an attack on India’s Pathankot air base, according to a source in Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik) – New Delhi is likely to hold foreign secretary-level talks with Islamabad despite an attack on India’s Pathankot air base close to the border with Pakistan, a source in Indian Ministry of External Affairs told Sputnik on Sunday.

A security operation was launched Saturday at the Pathankot air force base in Punjab after a group of gunmen stormed the military facility. The attacked air base is located on the road to the Kashmir region, disputed by India and Pakistan for almost 70 years.

"India will continue to engage with Pakistan despite Pathankot terror attack. India is in favor of Foreign Secretary level talks with Pakistan, which is likely to be held on 15 January in Islamabad," the source said.

Seven security personnel have lost their lives in the operation and 20 were injured, while at least four militants were killed in the shootout at the air base, according to Indian authorities.

Earlier on Sunday, Indian External Minister Sushma Swaraj held a meeting with former foreign secretaries and former high commissioners to Pakistan and asked their view regarding talks with Pakistan in the aftermath of the attack.