Pathankot attack: Pakistan team to finish probe at home first

Pakistan will send a probe team to India regarding the Pathankot terror attack as soon as it completes its investigations here, officials here said.

On January 2, a heavily-armed group attacked the Pathankot Air Force Station, part of the Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force. Five attackers and seven security forces personnel were killed in the battle. India believed the attackers, who were wearing Indian Army fatigues, belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

Following the attacks, the Indian and Pakistani governments agreed to postpone scheduled diplomatic talks, expected to take place next month.

Officials said Islamabad will write to New Delhi about the visit of its investigation team on the Pathankot airbase attack. “Once the JIT investigating the Indian leads felt the need to visit India, Islamabad will immediately inform New Delhi of the schedule,” an official said. “A thorough investigation is underway; it would be premature to comment on the outcome of the investigation,” he added.

On Monday, Indian high commissioner Gautam Bambawale met National Security Adviser Naseer Khan Janjua in Islamabad to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the foreign office said Pakistan had condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and favoured a cooperative approach to eliminate the menace from its soil and the region.

“While our resources are overstretched, we remain determined to root out terrorism from the soil of Pakistan and the region, through a cooperative approach,” foreign office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said at a press briefing here.

In response to a question about the joint statement, issued during French president’s visit to India, that urged only Pakistan to expedite Mumbai trial, the spokesman said terrorism was not only India’s problem but also of Pakistan, region and the world.

He said Pakistan had rendered enormous sacrifices while combating terrorism to make the world a safer and better place to live.

“Our sacrifices have been appreciated by the international community. We therefore would expect India and France’s joint statement on counter-terrorism to acknowledge this fact,” he said.

Mr Khalilullah said it was important to do away with unsubstantiated allegations as it undermined the efforts against terrorism.

“We wish India to share the investigation into the Samjhota Express tragedy and expect it to share the report in this regard,” he added.

About a recent interview of US President Barrack Obama urging Pakistan to take more serious steps against terrorism, the Spokesman said international community including the US had already acknowledged Pakistan’s unflinching commitment to combating terrorism.

He mentioned that Pakistan had suffered enormous human and financial losses in its counter-terrorism efforts.