The Quint got exclusive access to the details of the presentation given by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to the Pakistan Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in the Pathankot terror probe.
The JIT arrived in Delhi on Sunday, 27 March. On Monday, the Pakistan JIT spent seven hours in the NIA headquarters in Delhi. During the presentation made to the Pakistan team, NIA emphasised the role of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e- Mohammad (JeM) terror group in the attack. So far the JIT has not disputed or countered the role of JeM in the attack.
On Tuesday the Pakistan team will leave for Pathankot at around 8 am and by evening they will return. On Wednesday, we will get know about their findings.Sarad Kumar, NIA Chief
Details of the Presentation by NIA to Pakistan JIT
- India will not give the Pakistani team direct access to the witnesses, but they will be asked to hand over their questionnaire to NIA officials, who will then get the answers from the witnesses and pass them on to the JIT.
- NIA has demanded access to the JeM handlers and witnesses (like family members of four terrorists) in Pakistan for questioning.
- NIA will share the DNA samples, photographs and background details of the four terrorists killed in the Pathankot terror attack.The investigators will hand over the voice samples of the handlers of JeM terror group to JIT.
- The NIA has already shared the names of three JeM handlers through Letter Rogatory; Ashfaq Ahmad, Hafiz Abdul Shakur and Qasim were giving instructions to the terrorists in Pathankot from Bahawalpur city in Pakistan.
- NIA demanded questioning of Abdul Rauf Ashgar, brother of JeM Chief Maulana Masood Azhar, who claimed the responsibility for the attack.
- NIA has also told the Pakistan team to begin an investigation against JeM Chief Maulana Musood Azhar.
Pakistan JIT Maintained Silence for Seven Hours in NIA HQs
The five-member Pakistan JIT – headed by Chief of Punjab’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Muhammad Tahir Rai – reached the NIA HQs at 11am on Monday. The other members are Lahore’s Deputy Director General Intelligence Bureau Mohammad Azim Arshad, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) official Lt Col Tanvir Ahmed, Military Intelligence official Lt Col Irfan Mirza and Gujaranwala CTD Investigating Officer Shahid Tanveer.
According to NIA sources, the JIT was receptive to all the information shared by the investigators. Till now, JIT has not shared any information with NIA but they are likely to do so on Wednesday.
It appears that Pakistan JIT wants to visit the scene of crime in Pathankot before making any statement to us. We hope that Pakistan follows the Principal of Reciprocity and give us access to witnesses, handlers and other evidence in Pakistan.Senior Official, NIA
Once the Pakistan JIT returns to Pakistan, NIA is likely to schedule its own visit to the country.
According to the sources, Pakistan team didn’t question the evidence provided to them on the involvement of JeM. But the question remains – is their silence a sign of acceptance or indifference?
The NIA gave an official statement on the visit by Pakistan JIT:
The 5-member team from Pakistan arrived today. They met the DG of NIA. NIA gave them a presentation. The Pakistsn team and the NIA team are interacting under the extant legal procedures of India and Pakistan. The JIT will be taken to different locations associated with the Pathankot case on the 29th. The exercise is aimed at providing evidence to Pakistan JIT so that all those guilty of the Pathankot attack can be prosecuted effectively in Pakistan. Discussion will confine with Pakistan’s JIT.
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