NEW DELHI: With Pakistan’s Joint Investigation Team (JIT) all set to arrive in India to probe the deadly terrorist attack on the Pathankot Air Force Base, Defence Expert P.K. Sehgal on Sunday said that it would be extremely tough for them as the establishment in Islamabad did except the fact earlier that the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) was involved in the same.
Sehgal told ANI it is the first time ever that India has permitted an official team of Pakistan which consists of very high profile intelligence officials.
“The team has to keep in mind the fact that prior to their visit an SIT had been constituted on the instructions of the Pakistani Prime Minister in response to the Indian Prime Minister’s conversation with him. And the SIT constituted by Pakistan itself came to conclusion based on the leads that India has provided that Jaish-e-Mohammed was involved and it also confirmed that a terrorist had spoken to his mother across in Pakistan. And they recommended to the government of Pakistan that an FIR be filed against Jaish and those terrorists. However, the FIR was filed without naming the Jaish and against unknown people,” said Sehgal.
“In other words, the Pakistani establishment did except the fact that they were involved. So, with that backdrop it will be very very difficult for Pakistan to get out of what they have already committed,” he added.
Sehgal further said the government of India at the level of the External Affairs Minister as well as the Prime Minister has made it absolutely clear to Pakistan and the rest of the world that further talks at the Secretary-level and beyond are contingent to the progress on Pathankot.
A five-member JIT from Pakistan will arrive later in the day to probe the Pathankot terror attack. The team comprises of officials from both the military intelligence as well as civil administration.
The team, which was granted visas on Friday, would visit the NIA headquarters tomorrow and Pathankot on Tuesday.
According to sources, the JIT comprises of Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) AIG Rai Tahir as convener, Intelligence Bureau Lahore Deputy Director General Azim Arshad, Lt. Col Tanvir Ahmed of the ISI, Lt Col Irfan Mirza of MI and Gujranwala CTD Investigating Officer Shahid Tanveer.
However, reports state that the team's movement would be restricted only to the area of the engagement between security forces and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists.
However, reports state that the team's movement would be restricted only to the area of the engagement between security forces and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists.
On January 2, terrorists attacked the Pathankot Air Force Station, part of the Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force.
Four terrorists were killed and two security personnel were martyred in the gun battle.