Modi emphasizes PM Sharif on ‘immediate’ action against terrorists linked

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) today (Thursday) put the ball in Pakistan’s court and said the future course of action would be decided after Islamabad’s response to actionable intelligence provided with regard to the attack.

The attackers had crossed over from Pakistan and the Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed may be responsible, according to India’s Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi.

Security forces continued search and combing operation inside the Pathankot air base on Tuesday – the fourth day after the attack on the frontline Air Force Station (AFS) by suspected Pakistani terrorists. “We are now awaiting prompt and effective action from Pakistan”, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

“The government of Pakistan has spoken very powerfully to this and it’s certainly our expectation that they’ll treat this exactly the way they’ve said they would”, State Department Spokesman John Kirby said yesterday on the attack by Pakistani terrorists on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot.

Pakistan has condemned the attack and said it wanted to build on the goodwill created by the impromptu meeting between Modi and Sharif last month.

Another official said that the information provided by India was not enough as it was just limited to telephone numbers and Pakistan might ask for additional information.

Reports say that the account given by Singh about his captivity and release raised serious questions due to inconsistent statements given by him.

Combing operations in the Pathankot air base are still underway and are likely to be over by Wednesday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said.

Uncertainty prevails on talks scheduled for January 15 in Islamabad between Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry following the terror strike on the Pathakot air base. “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 statement said.

India accuses Pakistan of arming and training insurgents in its portion of Kashmir.

Pakistan also expects DNA evidence, bodies and other forms of identification from India “within days”, the official said. “He ought to have taken opposition events into confidence earlier than taking such a step”, Congress chief Pramod Tiwari stated when requested about Nawaz Sharif calling up Prime Minister Modi to offer assurance that they might act towards these liable for Pathankot assault.