The Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan, who were to hold talks in Islamabad on Friday, will meet soon, it was announced on Thursday.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said the Indian Foreign Secretary spoke to his Pakistani counterpart and agreed to reschedule the Friday meeting.

(Read: Pak detains Azhar, JeM offices sealed)

They “mutually agreed to reschedule the talks to a date in the very near future”, the spokesman said.

Pakistan had made a similar announcement just hours earlier.

“Both countries are in contact to firm up the dates for the meeting of the two Foreign Secretaries,” Foreign Office spokesman Qazi M. Khalilullah told the media in Islamabad.

“Mutual consultations are on regarding the rescheduling of the talks.”

Neither side said why the talks were postponed but it appeared to be linked to a crackdown New Delhi desires on Pakistani terrorists accused of plotting the January 2 attack on the IAF base in Pathankot.

Later, answering questions, the Indian spokesman said the fact the two countries had agreed to reschedule the talks “is a very positive indication”.

He also said that the National Security Advisers of the two countries were in regular touch.

Pakistan announced on Wednesday that it had arrested several JeM activists and sealed its offices. Pakistani media reports later quoted unnamed sources as saying that JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar had been detained.

But the spokesman said he had no knowledge about Masood Azhar’s arrest. “I am not aware of any such arrest.” Khalilullah said terrorism was a common threat and both Pakistan and India should work together to end it.(Agencies)