Pakistani Forces Raid, Make Arrests in Pathankot Attack Probe

Pakistan Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif just ordered a Joint Investigation Team to investigate the Pathankot attack

Pakistani authorities have made arrests in the Pathankot attack probe after raids in Gujranwala, Jhelum and Bahawalpur districts of Pakistan on Monday.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also ordered a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) of Intelligence Bureau (IB), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence, Federal Investigation Agency, and Police to thoroughly probe the Pathankot attack links to Pakistan.

The probe has been going to ascertain if they were involved in the attack or some of them facilitated it.

Pakistani Security Forces

According to a Pakistani newspaper, The Express Tribune, the decision to set up this high-level committee was taken a few days ago, after India shared intel related to the attack with Pakistan.

Also read: India Shares Pathankot Evidence, Names of JeM Handlers With Pak

Since the attack, speculation was rife that the terrorists were Pakistani, with call records proving they had made phone calls to Pakistan before the attack.

India has provided “specific and actionable information” to Pakistan.

The decision to create a JIT was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by PM Sharif a few days ago, which was attended by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, National Security Adviser Lt-Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

[He] is taking an active role in getting to the bottom of the Pathankot incident. He also discussed the issue with army chief Gen Raheel Sharif and took him on board about the decision to form a JIT.

Prime Minister’s House source to The Express Tribune

A statement issued by the Sharif’s office mentioned that he had a telephone conversation with the US Secretary of State, John Kerry.

Sharif told Kerry that Pakistan is “swiftly carrying out investigations in a transparent manner and will bring out the truth.”

The world will see our effectiveness and sincerity in this regard.

Statement from Nawaz Sharif’s Office

Sharif also reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to not allow anyone to use its soil “to conduct terror operations abroad”. Based on his word, Kerry extended his full cooperation and support to Sharif “to find out the truth in the Pathankot terror incident”.

This investigation will be a major test of the prime minister to move Pakistan-India relationship forward and to break the cycle of off-again on-again talks between the two neighbours.

Prime Minister’s House source to The Express Tribune

Sharif has assured leaders from India and the US that Pakistan will investigate the matter and make the results public.

A meeting between the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan is scheduled for January 15, but it is unclear if the meeting will happen.

(With inputs from sources.)