Sharif hands over Pathankot attack investigation to IB chief

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has handed over the investigation into the Pathankot airbase attack to Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Aftab Sultan, a senior official said.

Earlier, Sharif had called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assure him of "prompt and decisive" action against groups and individuals who might be linked to the attack.

Modi strongly emphasised the need for Pakistan to take firm and immediate action against organisations and individuals responsible for and linked to the Pathankot attack.

Prime Minister Sharif chaired a meeting in Islamabad yesterday to discuss the incident, The Nation reported.

Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, National Security Adviser Nasser Khan Janjua, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry and IB chief Sultan attended the meeting.

Officials said that Sharif and the aides agreed to launch investigations into the incident.

A meeting between Indian and Pakistani foreign secretaries had been tentatively scheduled for January 15.