Won't give Pakistan SIT access to Pathankot, says Manohar Parrikar

NEW DELHI: Even as defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday said he was "hurt" by Washington's decision to sell additional F-16 fighters to Islamabad, he lashed out at Pakistan for failing to act against the perpetrators of the Pathankot terror strike and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks despite India sharing substantive evidence with the neighbouring country.

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"If someone pretends to fall asleep, it is very difficult to find out (what they are up to). The government has continuously given evidence to Pakistan...if they are serious, they can act," the defence minister said.

The minister also asserted there was no question of allowing Pakistani investigators access to the Pathankot airbase, which was attacked by Jaish-e-Muhammed terrorists last month, since the incident had taken place in India and there was an ongoing National Investigation Agency probe into it. "They (Pakistan) have to investigate the role of the people in their country," he said.

On David Coleman Headley's recent testimony, Parrikar said he didn't need the approver's evidence to prove that Pakistani handlers were behind the 26/11 Mumbai terror strike.

MEA, meanwhile, said Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's admission that Kargil was a stab in the back for then PM A B Vajpayee was a confirmation of truth.

Spokesperson Vikas Swarup, though, clarified that the dates for foreign secretary-level talks has not yet been finalised. This was even as the Pakistan Foreign Office said the two neighbouring countries should now quickly decide the date for these talks.

Asked about Pakistan's offer of sending a special investigation team to India to probe the Pathankot attack, he said India was waiting for a firm proposal from Islamabad on the issue. The official, unlike the defence minister, remained tight-lipped about whether or not Pakistan SIT would be allowed access to the Pathankot airbase.

"We have said that we welcomed the decision of Pakistan government to form an SIT. As and when a firm proposal is received, then the modalities will be worked out," he said.

If someone pretends to fall asleep, it is very difficult to find out (what Pakistan are up to). The government has given evidence to Pakistan regarding both Pathankot and 26/11 attacks...if they are serious, they can act.