Government awaiting Pakistan's response on NIA team's visit

The government is awaiting Pakistan's response on the visit of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) team to that country in connection with the cross-border terror attack on the Pathankot airbase.

During a meeting between Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar and Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry last month, India had pointed out the need to review progress in the Pathankot investigation, for which an NIA team could visit Pakistan, according to sources within the government.

"We are ascertaining Pakistan's response. Details will be worked out subsequently," the sources said.

At least seven Indian security personnel were killed during the attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot on January 2 this year.

The Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the attack.

With India demanding stern action against the perpetrators of attack, Pakistan filed an FIR against unknown persons and sent a joint investigation team (JIT) to Pathankot in March as part of its probe into the attack.

Following this, the NIA said that it would send a team to Pakistan to further probe the attack.

This also came up for discussion during the meeting between Jaishankar and Chaudhry on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia senior officials' meeting here last month.

--IANS

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