Sharif calls Modi on Pathankot attack, assures action

India has already given “specific and actionable information” to Pakistan on the involvement of militants in Pakistan in the attack, it said.

It quoted Sharif as saying that terrorists always tried to derail the process of peace between the two countries.

Pakistan is working on the “leads” provided by India on the terror attack on the IAF base in Pathankot, the Foreign Office said on Monday night in a statement whose tone was conciliatory.

She said Pakistan must stop being seen on the side of the alleged attackers.

Hopes for a thaw in relations were raised after Indian Premier Narendra Modi paid an unexpected visit to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif. Besides, he said, at the UN General Assembly forum, he floated a four-point feasible agenda for the restoration of peaceful relations between Pakistan and India.

Addressing reporters at the airbase, Parrikar said the security forces “have done an excellent job containing these highly motivated terrorists on a suicide mission”. “Let them collect all the information”, he said.

Sharad Kumar, chief of India’s National Investigation Agency, has said that telephone intercepts suggested the attackers were from Pakistan. In a pre-dawn attack, a group of heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists, suspected to be belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit, struck at the Air Force base in Punjab on January 2. “The first assurance was that the handlers of Mumbai attack would be tried and punished and only after that a comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan should start”, he added.

It is now assumed that both NSAs might also meet at the same time when the foreign secretary talks will be held.

He further added that both incoming and out going calls were made to Pakistan and that Pathankot attack and was similar to Dinanagar Police station attack.

Mr Kirby said the U.S. has been clear “with the highest levels” of the Pakistan government that its counter-terrorism operations must not discriminate among terrorist groups.

The Home Ministry initially said the attack was contained on Sunday, but it later emerged that militants were still at the site.