“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif assured Prime Minister Modi that his government would take prompt and decisive action against the terrorists”, a statement posted on the Indian government website read.
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Following a meeting of the National Security Council chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said that the bodies of four terrorists have been recovered and those of the remaining two would be found.
“I do see some gaps (in security), which will be clear after investigations”, minister Manohar Parrikar told journalists.
The Pathankot assault started before dawn on Saturday when a group of gunmen – wearing Indian army uniforms – entered the residential quarters on the base. The Pakistani official said Pakistan could temporarily arrest Jaish-e-Mohammad’s leader Masood Azhar to appease India, but only if the leads checked out. But Pakistan’s “real intention” once again came to fore in Pathankot terror attacks.
“Some elements wanted to sabotage the talks process between the two neighbouring countries through such terror acts, but they did not succeed in their nefarious designs”, he said in an interview with a Pakistani television channel.
On the other hand, in a late Monday night press statement, Pakistan Foreign Ministry stated that it is “working on the leads provided by India” to counter and eradicate terrorism. The DNA test of the six terrorists will be conducted as early as possible so that Pakistani authorities can move on the case, official sources said.
He said the terrorists were carrying 40-50 kgs of bullets, mortars, which were fired from modified Under-Barrel Grenade Launcher besides some magazines.
India is evaluating whether to have peace talks with nuclear rival Pakistan, scheduled for mid-January, in light of the attack on one of its air-force bases in northern Punjab state over the weekend.
Indian security agencies have been on a high alert since the attack over the weekend on the air base by six gunmen.
He, however, said that Pakistan would continue to adhere to the “principled stand of the right of self-determination of Kashmiri people which is the basis of its foreign policy”.
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Swarup also noted that a “positive atmosphere” was created between the two countries after Modi’s visit to Lahore last month but now they are facing the aftermath of the terror attack. The fifth terrorist, according to the security forces, was killed on Monday.
