Pakistan urged to trace IAF terror links

One day after Indian security forces concluded combing operations at an Indian air base in the northern state of Punjab that was attacked by suspected Pakistani militants on January 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site to conduct an inspection.

The attack in Pathankot came just a week after the Prime Minister made an unscheduled visit to Pakistan and met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Addressing the meeting, Sharif said Pakistan was ready to boost cooperation with India as part of counter-terrorism efforts.

Kasuri’s reaction comes even as Islamabad is pushing for a sustained dialogue in the wake of the daring attack at an air base, where a sizeable number of Indian Air Force’s MiG-21 fighter planes and Mi-25 attack helicopters were based.

Pakistan needs concrete evidence from India for acting against the elements involved in the terror attack at the Pathankot air base in Punjab, a media report said on Saturday.

However, the attack on Pathankot airbase had dampened hopes for a breakthrough until Pakistan acted against the mastermind of the recent attack.

Modi also undertook an aerial survey of the forward positions along the India-Pakistan border.

“The Prime Minister told Secretary Kerry that we are swiftly carrying out investigations in a transparent manner and will bring out the truth”, it said.

The US foreign policy wizard said continuation of India-Pakistan talks is needed in the interest of regional stability, and the leadership role by both the prime ministers was required to ensure continuous dialogue.

The evidence furnished by India includes intercepts of phone calls made by the six terrorists.

After the Pathankot air base attack, Sharif called Modi assuring him of “prompt and decisive” action against groups or individuals linked to the attack. Latter on, on a sympathetic yet proud note PM talked to the family members of the security personnel who attained martyrdom, in the Pathankot attack. According to officials, it would become very hard for the US Government to convince the Republican-controlled Congress to approve a sale of eight F-16s to Pakistan if Islamabad is seen as reluctant in taking action against these terrorist groups.

The meeting between Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry is otherwise scheduled to be held in Islamabad next week.

At today’s meeting, Sharif re-affirmed Pakistan’s strong condemnation of terrorism and its commitment to eradicate terrorism from the region.