India mulls cancelling Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan after airbase attack

India is mulling cancelling or delaying the Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan following an attack on its key airbase in the northern state of Punjab, sources said Monday.

"The Foreign Secretaries of both countries are scheduled to meet in Islamabad on Jan. 14 and 15. Now the talks may be cancelled or delayed for the time being because of the terror attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot," the sources said.

In fact, India will first seek a meeting between the National Security Advisors of both countries on the deadly terror attack and then decide about whether to hold Foreign Secretary-level talks, according to the sources.

However, an official confirmation on the talks will be announced later this week, they said.

The attack, which came barely a week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise visit to Lahore on the 66th birthday of his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, once again brought the bilateral relations under cloud.

Seven Indian security personnel were killed and more than 20 others injured in the attack carried out by six suspected Pakistani militants at the airbase in Pathankot, just 25 km from the border with Pakistan.

All six terrorists have also been killed in an operation that lasted for nearly three days at the key frontier base, where Russian-made combat jets and choppers are stationed. All the air assets are intact. Enditem