India awaiting response from Pakistan on NIA visit

NEW DELHI: India is awaiting a response from Pakistan on a visit by an NIA team there to review progress in Pathankot investigation, nearly three weeks after Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar had raised the issue with his Pakistani counterpart here.

During a meeting with Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry on April 26, Jaishankar had highlighted the need to review progress in Pathankot investigation, for which an NIA Team could visit Pakistan.

"We are ascertaining Pakistan's response. Details will be worked out subsequently," a government source said while reacting to reports of NIA seeking to visit Pakistan.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) has already said that it would like to visit Pakistan to carry forward the investigation in the Pathankot attack. A letter is being sent to the MEA for further communication to Pakistan, NIA sources said.

A Pakistan JIT had visited India in March in connection with the probe in the Pathankot terror attack perpetrated by the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

After the visit, NIA DG had said that the interaction with JIT was held in accordance with terms of reference mutually agreed on the basis of reciprocity.

The terrorists had entered the strategic air base at Pathankot on the intervening night of January one-two and mounted the brazen assault. In the fierce encounter that ensued, seven security personnel besides four terrorists were killed.