PM Narendra Modi visits Pathankot air base

The US Secretary of State John Kerry on Saturday spoke to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and informed the previous that talks with India ought to resume regardless of the current terror assault at Punjab’s Pathankot airbase.

During his visit, which comes exactly one week after the pre-dawn attack on the frontline air base by the terrorists, Modi is likely to meet Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel at the base along with other troops in the area.

Sharif, who had telephoned his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, assured him of “prompt and decisive action” against those found guilty.

The prime minister was taken around the air base by defence and security officers.

India says it gave Pakistan “specific and actionable information” regarding the Pathankot air base attack on Tuesday.

“At the very least, Pakistan can use its extensive intelligence network to find out who made the calls that were reportedly made from the handlers from this side of the border”, The Nation said in an editorial.

Meanwhile, India is awaiting Pakistan’s response on the information provided related to the Pathankot incident which is crucial to the upcoming bilateral talks scheduled for later this month. “China hopes India and Pakistan can continue to enhance their dialogue regardless of these disruptions”.

Talks between India and Pakistan have been in peril of being jeopardised when terrorists attacked an Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, final Saturday.

Following the incident, the United Jihad Council, a conglomerate of pro-Pakistan groups and based in Pakistan-Administrated Kashmir, claimed responsibility for the attack.

“Was briefed in great detail on how our forces neutralised such a serious terrorist attack”, he said.

Jaish-e-Mohammed staged a 2001 attack on the Indian parliament which brought the two countries to the brink of war. Seven Indian security personnel also lost their lives.

At a second high-level meeting on Friday, Mr Sharif reiterated his country’s commitment to cooperate with India on investigating the attack. “All state institutions in Pakistan are fully committed to eliminating the scourge of terrorism”, he was quoted as saying in an official communiqué issued by the Prime Minister House.

“They (Pakistan) said they’re going to investigate it. They said they’re not going to discriminate between terrorist groups when they conduct counter-terrorism operations”, the official said.