After Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lived up to his assurance to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on registering an FIR in the Pathankot airbase strike, India is ready to receive a special investigating team (SIT) from across the border and share evidence on Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists and planners of the attack.
No decision has been taken yet on the proposed foreign secretary-level talks or the possibility of Modi and Sharif meeting on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Conference (NSC) in Washington from March 31 to April 1.
Top government sources told HT on condition of anonymity that New Delhi was informed about the FIR on Wednesday through diplomatic back channels and a copy of the legal instrument was shared subsequently.
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The FIR, based on information given by Indian national security advisor Ajit Doval to his Pakistani counterpart Naseer Khan Janjua on January 2, has been registered under Sections 302 (murder), 309 (attempt to murder) and 109 (abetment) of the Pakistan Penal Code, 7 (punishment for acts of terror) and 21 (security to witness and judges) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. The FIR is against unknown people and does not exclude JeM chief Masood Azhar.
“Pakistani PM Sharif and NSA Janjua have lived up to their promise of taking action against the JeM by rounding up no less than 25 people, questioning Masood Azhar and sealing the seminaries affiliated to the group. Azhar has not been named in the FIR as it is still to be backed by specific evidence against the jihadist leader. India will share evidence with the Pakistan SIT so that action can be taken against Azhar,” a senior official said.
{{/usCountry}}“Pakistani PM Sharif and NSA Janjua have lived up to their promise of taking action against the JeM by rounding up no less than 25 people, questioning Masood Azhar and sealing the seminaries affiliated to the group. Azhar has not been named in the FIR as it is still to be backed by specific evidence against the jihadist leader. India will share evidence with the Pakistan SIT so that action can be taken against Azhar,” a senior official said.
{{/usCountry}}It is understood that a six-member team led by inspector general Rai Tahir of the counter-terrorism department will arrive in India in March and visit the terror strike spot with the permission of the defence ministry and the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The Indian security establishment is satisfied with Pakistan’s move to register the FIR and expects Sharif to take action against the JeM after New Delhi shares full evidence. India is also amenable to an NIA team visiting Pakistan with Islamabad’s permission to close the investigation.
Read | India-Pak talks not dependent on Pathankot probe: Indian envoy