Pak’s probe team to visit Pathankot base

Last week Pakistan lodged an FIR into the incident.  According to reports, the JIT would be visiting the airbase next month to gather evidence subject to permission by the Indian government to conduct its own investigation. The probe team comprises Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Additional Inspector General of Police (IGP) Muhammad Tahir Rai (convener), Lahore Deputy Director General (DDG) Intelligence Bureau Mohammad Azim Arshad, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt-Col Tanvir Ahmed, Military Intelligence Lt-Col Irfan Mirza and Gujjaranwala CTD Investigating Officer Shahid Tanveer (members). Earlier, a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) was set up by the government to carry out initial probe into the case based on the leads given by India.

A police official said that the SIT would become dysfunctional once government formally transferred its powers to the JIT. The Pakistani team of experts is expected to visit India “shortly” to collect more evidence into the attack.  Pakistan on February 18 lodged an FIR in connection with the Pathankot terror attack without naming JeM chief Masood Azhar who India has accused of having masterminded the strike. 

The FIR by the Counter-Terrorism Department of Punjab police has been lodged on the basis of information provided by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval that four attackers probably crossed from Pakistan into India and attacked the airbase on January 2. In over three days of assault, seven military personnel were killed and 22 were injured. Five attackers were also eliminated, but the ease with which the attackers gained access  to the sprawling compound in Punjab that lies 25 km from the border with Pakistan sent shock waves everywhere.