Pakistan PM #NawazSharif  calls PM Narendra Modi, says will take action

#Islamabad : #Pakistan PM Mr #NawazSharif called Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi to assure him that Islamabad would take “prompt” and “decisive”action against the terrorists and their organisations who had mounted the operation in Pathankot. The Pakistan PM #NawazSharif apparently did not attempt to prevaricate or dissemble as to the nationality of the attackers, especially after proof was provided to him.

A press release put out by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian PM #NarendraModi strongly emphasised the need for Pakistan to take firm and immediate action against the organisations and individuals responsible for and linked to the Pathankot terrorist attack. ‘Specific and actionable information in this regard has been provided to Pakistan’, the release said.

The Pakistani foreign office had another slightly different version of the conversation. Acording to them, it was to convey his ‘grief and sorrow’ that Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called India PM  #NarendraModi. He told Narendra  Modi that terrorists would not be allowed to derail the peace process between the two countries and said Pakistan would investigate all leads or information provided by the government of India.

The two National Security Advisors (NSAs), A K Doval and Gen Nasir Khan Janjua also spoke on the phone. It is not known who took the initiative. At the same time, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said the actual operation to hunt down militants had ended with the discovery of six badly burnt bodies of terrorists who carried irrefutable evidence of being Pakistani. He said combing operations to destroy and defuse explosives would continue. Manohar  Parrikar conceded that there had been lapses in the operation, but blamed the size and terrain of the Pathankot airbase for this. He was clear that he was speaking only on behalf of the defence services and would not comment either on the role of the state government or the National Security Guard (NSG) amid criticism that absence of command and control systems had led to a botched operation. He said the NSG was continuing to direct operations.

On why the Indian Army had not taken a lead role in the operation, Parrikar said the Army had no mandate to operate in civilian areas. Apart of the air base was in civilian areas. Several foreigners who were undergoing training were also present at the base, as were 3,000 civilian families. Parrikar said the NSG had worked out how the infiltrators entered,and what route they took. He said more facts would be available after an enquiry had been conducted. He also explained that the operation was on only for 36 hours, not 60-plus hours as claimed by many. Combing operations were going on after the operation had ended.

#ManoharParrikar said the NSG had worked out the route of ingress of the militants and would take steps to block them. The main opposition Congress meanwhile criticised the government bitterly for the casual way in which the operation was handled leading to avoidable loss of life. Congress spokesman Anand Sharma held the not just the government NSA Ajit  Doval personally responsible for the loss of lives.