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A team of five Pakistani sleuths arrived here Sunday to investigate the Pathankot Air Force base terrorist attacks even as they have a hectic action-plan for the next seven days that will involve widespread probing of the case.
The five-member team is being led by Muhammad Rai Tahir, Additional Inspector-General, Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). The other team-members are: Muhammed Azeem Arshad, Additional Director (Lahore), Intelligence Bureau; Lt. Col. Tanvir Ahmad from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI); Lt. Col. Irfan Mirza from Military Intelligence (MI) and Punjab CTD Inspector Shahid Tanveer.
The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was formed last month by the Punjab government there following the FIR registered in Gujranwala by the Pakistan government on February 18 under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, sources told BusinessLine .
The JIT will work on the mandate of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, which is “working on the intelligence inputs provided by India on the case,” a senior official said on condition of anonymity. However, the JIT will have “very restricted access” and will only be allowed to carry out “preliminary investigations” due to the sensitive nature of the case as the location under question is a crucial part of India’s military establishment, the official said.
The JIT will not be allowed to examine the exact routes used by the terrorists, nor will they be allowed to enter the technical base of the Air Force base where the aircrafts are parked, sources added.
India had earlier maintained that the terrorist attacks, which took place on January 2, were allegedly executed by Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Muhammad. There were also reports that JeM head Masood Azhar was apparently detained for questioning in Pakistan.
On Monday, the JIT will have a day-long meeting with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) at its headquarters here. During the meeting, the NIA is also expected to prod the JIT on the actions taken against JeM so far.
Meanwhile, India plans to constitute a similar probe team with the objective to visit Pakistan to interrogate the case.
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