Pathankot attack: India’s NIA chief gives clean chit to Pakistan

KARACHI: Chief of India’s top anti-terrorism agency on Thursday cleared Pakistan of any complicity in a militant attack on Pathankot Airbase.

"No evidence to show that Pakistan government or Pakistani government agency was helping Jaish–e–Mohammed or Masood Azhar or his aides carry out Pathankot attack.," said Director General of  National Investigation Agency (NIA) Sharad Kumar in an interview with a local TV.

He, however, claimed to have sufficient evidence against Maulana Masood Azhar and his brother Rauf Azhar, vowing to bring charges against leaders of banned Jaish-e-Muhammad militant outfit.

In January this year, militants mounted a deadly attack on Pathankot airbase, killing seven security personnel. Four militants were also killed in the ensuing battles at the facility located near Pakistan border.

New Delhi had accused Pakistan based militants of orchestrating the attack.

Pakistan lodged a case against unnamed perpetrators of the attack that renewed tensions between the two rivals. It also stalled hopes of revived peace talks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise visit to his counterpart Nawaz Sharif in December.

Pakistani offered to help India bring perpetrators of the attack to book and sent a team of investigators to India where they were granted limited access to the airbase.

Commenting of NIA chief’s statement; Pakistan Foreign spokesman Nafees Zakaria said India has vindicated Islamabad’s longstanding position in the context.

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— SpokespersonMOFA (@ForeignOfficePk) June 2, 2016

“Pakistan’s spirit of cooperation is manifested in the action we took in the wake of alleged incident,” he said on Twitter.

He said the Joint Investigation Team that visited India is examining whatever information and intelligence was shared by New Delhi during its visit.

“Pakistan believes in peaceful coexistence with countries in the region and beyond,” Zakaria said.