Simran Sodhi,Tribune News Service,New Delhi, January 8
The uncertainty over the Foreign Secretary-level talks scheduled for January 15 in Islamabad continued today with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reportedly ordering a probe into the evidence provided by India over the Pathankot attacks.Sharif held a second high-level meeting today with his senior officials, including Army Chief Raheel Sharif. This is his second such meeting in as many days. Sources said the meeting was called to discuss the Pathankot attacks.The leads provided by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval have reportedly been handed over to Pakistan Intelligence Bureau chief Aftab Sultan for further action.India has stated publicly that talks cannot happen till Pakistan acts on this “actionable intelligence”. A section of the Pakistan media reported that Pakistan officials felt the evidence provided by India was not enough as it contained mainly telephone numbers and they might seek additional information.Sources in the government told The Tribune that India had not received any such request from Pakistan so far.Sources said both PMs were keen on taking forward the dialogue process that had just resumed between the two countries. Sharif had yesterday held a high-level meeting with top officials.
Sharif chairs meet on Pathankot again
SAVING TALKS Reviews action on leads provided by India; Modi may visit Pathankot today or address soldiers via web chat
NEW DELHI: Pakistan on Friday reviewed the progress on leads provided by India about the Pathankot attack, a day after New Delhi linked next week’s talks between the foreign secretaries to Islamabad’s response to the audacious strike.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has stressed on the need for urgent action when he spoke to Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, is likely to visit the Pathankot airbase on Saturday or address soldiers via web chat, government sources said.
However, Punjab DGP Suresh Arora told HT there was no official communication regarding the visit. While Islamabad pushed for a sustained dialogue in the wake of the attack that has cast a shadow on bilateral ties, authorities in New Delhi said they were awaiting a formal response from Pakistan.
Sources said India had shared actionable intelligence about the terrorists, believed to be from the Pakistan-based Jaishe-Mohammed group. “There is no deadline. But we hope Pakistan takes action in time so that the scheduled talks are not hampered,” said an official.
Sleuths of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are probing whether the attackers in Pathankot had help from inside to enter the airbase and remain hidden for nearly 24 hours, sources said. The federal anti-terror agency on Friday formally summoned Punjab police officer Salwinder Singh who claims he along with a friend and a cook were abducted by terrorists involved in the attack. Sources said the SP may also have to go through a polygraph test.
Investigators say the probe will also determine whether weapons used by the attackers came in drugs consignments and the terrorists secured passage with the help of local drug cartels who may or may not have known their real identity.
“All these aspects are part of the inside angle probe,” said a counter-terror official.
A meeting chaired by Sharif in Islamabad, also attended by army chief Gen Raheel Sharif and ISI chief Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar, reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to cooperate with India to “completely eradicate” terrorism.
A statement issued by Sharif’s office after the meeting contained several assurances that appeared to be aimed at assuaging Indian concerns.
“In line with Pakistan’s commitment to effectively counter and eradicate terrorism, the meeting reviewed the progress made on the information provided by the government of India,” the statement said without giving any details.
“The meeting expressed the confidence that building on the goodwill generated by the recent high level contacts, the two countries would remain committed to a sustained, meaningful and comprehensive dialogue process,” it said.
The statement reiterated Pakistan’s 2004 commitment about not allowing its soil to be used for terrorism directed at India.
“The people of Pakistan have evolved a political consensus for action against all terrorists and terrorist organisations without any distinction, and have resolved that no terrorist would be allowed to use Pakistan’s soil for committing terrorism anywhere in the world,” it said.
Pakistan repeated its condemnation of the Pathankot attack and the statement said the country’s “entire leadership and institutions were working in complete harmony to counter terrorism and extremism” – an indication that the powerful army was on board.
Besides the army and ISI chiefs, the meeting was also attended by interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, foreign policy chief Sartaj Aziz, national security adviser Nasser Janjua, foreign secretary Aizaz Chaudhry and the Director General of Military Operations.
The Pathankot attack had figured in another meeting between Prime Minister Sharif and his top aides on Thursday. Pakistani media reports said Sharif had directed authorities to launch a probe on the basis of the information provided by India.
India’s demand for action against the JeM had also figured at a meeting of corps commanders chaired by army chief Gen Sharif on Wednesday, sources said.
