India on Tuesday sought “firm and immediate action” from Pakistan on the groups and individuals linked to the Pathankot airbase terrorist attack. In a telephonic conversation with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, sources said, Narendra Modi strongly put forth his anguish and concerns and urged his counterpart to take immediate action against the terrorists operating from Pakistani soil to disturb India’s peace.
The Prime Minister told Sharif that India has provided specific and actionable information to the Pakistani Government in this regard and now action has to be from Pakistan’s side. Sharif, on his part, assured Modi that his Government would take prompt and decisive action against the terrorists.
“Prime Minister Modi strongly emphasised the need for Pakistan to take firm and immediate action against the organisations and individuals responsible for and linked to the Pathankot terrorist attack. Specific and actionable information in this regard has been provided to Pakistan. Sharif assured Modi that his Government would take prompt and decisive action against the terrorists,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. Sharif called up Modi around 3.45 pm from Colombo, where he is on an official tour.
Earlier at about 11.30 am on Tuesday, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Naseer Janjua giving details of the attack, the manner in which it was conducted and the people behind it. Doval stressed that India wants concrete action from Pakistan on those behind the Pathankot attack. Besides, the attack on the Indian Consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif (Afghanistan) is also suspected to have been carried out by Pakistan-based militant groups.
India has said that the ball is now in Pakistan’s court and if Sharif delivers, then the spirit that was generated after Modi’s visit to lahore on December 25, can return.
India at the moment is not committing itself to the Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan as it wants some
concrete action from the other side first.
Sharif’s call came three days after Pakistan’s link to the attack became clearer. On Tuesday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said that some of the equipment used by the terrorists were made in Pakistan and the chief of National Investigation Agency, Sharad Kumar, added “there is little doubt that the attackers were from Pakistan.”
India is expected to send a letter Rogatory (lR) to Pakistan along with DNA samples of the dead terrorists, phone call details, voice data, telephonic intercepts, GPS systems, contact numbers of their handlers, believed to be based in Bahawalpur in Pakistan, and other information to help Pakistan catch the culprits.
It is learnt that one of the terrorists spoke to his mother on the phone saying he was on a fidayeen mission. Indian security agencies believe that through the telephonic intercepts, call details and voice data Pakistani authorities can reach the mother of the terrorist.
India is sending the DNA samples of this terrorist as well for matching with that of his mother to establish the link.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Foreign Ministry said it was working on the leads provided by India on the terror attack. “We understand the pain of many families who have lost their dear ones in this tragedy, as Pakistan itself is a major victim of terrorism. In line with Pakistan’s commitment to effectively counter and eradicate terrorism, the Government is in touch with the Indian Government and is working on the leads provided by it,” the spokesperson said.
“living in the same region and with a common history, the two countries should remain committed to a sustained dialogue process. The challenge of terrorism calls for strengthening our resolve to a cooperative approach,” he added.
However, sources in the Indian Government said that markers have been set for Pakistan to act now and all are waiting to see “if action on ground matches words” and whether the action is “credible and effective.”
“Some visible action is needed and since the Pakistani PM has himself talked about taking action this time Pakistan will be held accountable. There are various ways of demonstrating that they have all intentions to take action,” sources said.
Meanwhile, France and Japan condemned the attack on the airbase saying it stands alongside India in its fight against terrorism. USA, after the Pathankot attack, issued a statement and urged all countries in the region to disrupt and dismantle terrorist networks and bring to justice all perpetrators of the heinous act.