As a follow up to Pakistan’s Joint Investigation Team’s (JIT) visit to Pathankot last month, India has sought reciprocal visit by the National Investigation Agency there. Foreign Secretary S Jaishnakar took up the matter with his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry during a meeting on Tuesday. The FS also held extensive discussion with Chaudhry on the ongoing probe by JIT on the Pathankot terror attack. It is learnt the two sides are working on the modalities and plan of NIA’s visit to Pakistan but nothing has been finalised so far.
“Ideas were exchanged on how to take forward the relationship including the logical follow up of the Pakistan JIT and the ongoing investigation into the attack at Pathankot airbase…Both sides will reflect on those ideas. A relationship goes forward through such exchanges and let us remain hopeful,” External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said on Thursday while detailing the FS talks. He added there was extensive discussion on the Pathankot terror attack and the ongoing probe by both sides.
Chaudhry told Jaishnakar that Pak JIT is still analyzing the data and evidence collected in India and it will be too early to comment. “The Indian Foreign Secretary raised the Pathankot incident. In response, I informed him that the JIT had visited India from 27 March to 1 April 2016. On the basis of information received from the Indian side, the JIT is currently engaged in further investigations,” Chaudhry said in Islamabad.
Meanwhile, MEA clarified that Tuesday’s Indo-Pak FS meeting was not part of the proposed Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue (CBD) but only exchange of ideas to take forward the relationship. Both India and Pakistan has described the meeting as frank and constructive.