NIA Approaches FBI for Assistance in Pathankot Probe

The FBI’s assistance is being sought even as central agencies await a formal response from Pakistan JIT.

Armed forces during the counter-terror operation in Pathankot (Photo altered by The Quint)

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has approached several foreign investigative agencies including the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for assistance in investigating the Pathankot terror attacks.

The assistance of these agencies is being sought even as central investigative agencies await a formal response from Pakistan Joint Investigation Team. Official sources said that the help of some of the agencies including the FBI had been sought for tracking some cyber footprints that had been left by handlers of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in the aftermath of the attack on the IAF base at Pathankot on the intervening night of 1 and 2 January.

The NIA has also approached other international agencies with regard to the weapons and other equipment seized after the 80-hour gun battle with the terrorists at Pathankot.

NIA has conveyed to the Pakistani JIT which was headed by Additional Inspector General of Police, Counter Terrorism Department, Muhammad Tahir Rai including ISI’s Lt Col Tanvir Ahmed, that the cooperation was extended in accordance with the terms of reference mutually agreed on the basis of reciprocity and that it was waiting for permission to visit Pakistan.

The NIA has also sent a Letters Rogatory to Pakistan for which a response is still awaited.

The sources said NIA has provided all the evidence to the Pakistan JIT on the basis of written requests submitted by them to the central investigative agency. The terrorists entered the airbase and mounted a brazen assault on the intervening night of 1 and 2 January. In the fierce encounter, seven security personnel and four terrorists were killed.