Sharif calls up Modi, assures prompt action
AGENCY
New Delhi: As Pakistan link to Pathankot attack became clear, its Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday called up his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and vowed “prompt and decisive action” against the terrorists behind the strike about which “specific and actionable” information has been provided.
During the telephonic conversation, Modi strongly pressed for urgent steps against those responsible for the attack that began on Saturday last with six terrorists sneaking into the Air Base and leading to an encounter in which seven security men, including a Lt Colonel, were killed.
Modi received a call this afternoon from the Prime Minister of Pakistan regarding the terrorist attack on the Pathankot airbase, the PMO said.
The Prime Minister “strongly emphasized the need for Pakistan to take firm and immediate action against the organizations and individuals responsible for and linked to the Pathankot terrorist attack,” the PMO said in a statement.
The statement said “specific and actionable information in this regard has been provided to Pakistan”.
The information and leads, like the Pakistani numbers which the attackers had called and their intercepts, are understood to have been passed on by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
The attackers had reportedly made several calls to Pakistan, some of them brief and some long.
Pakistan Foreign Ministry on Monday night said it is working on the “leads” provided by India on the terror attack.
Extending Pakistan’s deepest condolences to the Government and people of India on the “unfortunate terrorist incident” in Pathankot, a statement by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “We understand the pain of many families who have lost their dear ones in this tragedy, as Pakistan itself is a major victim of terrorism.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan National Security Advisor General Naseer Khan Janjua on Tuesday called up his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval during which they discussed “specific and actionable information” related to the Pathankot terror strike, which is suspected to carried out by Pakistani terrorists.
According to official sources, Doval and Janjua talked about various information and leads, like the Pakistani numbers which the attackers had called and their intercepts with India asserting that an effective action on part of Pakistan was important.
Janjua’s call came hours before his Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during which the Pakistani leader vowed “prompt and decisive action” against the terrorists behind the strike.
In this regard, Modi strongly emphasised to Sharif the need for Pakistan to take firm and immediate action against the organisations and individuals responsible for and linked to the Pathankot terrorist attack.