INDIAPathankot attack: Pakistan arrests Jaish-e-Mohammad leaders, seals offices
PTI | Jan 13, 2016, 04.42 PM IST
Jawans keep vigil at the IAF base in Pathankot.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday detained "several individuals" belonging to JeM, which is suspected to have engineered the Pathankot terror attack, and sealed its offices after India linked Islamabad's "prompt and decisive" action to the fate of foreign secretary-level talks scheduled on Friday.
Pakistan is also considering sending a special investigation team to Pathankot as more information would be required to carry forward the process of cooperation with India.
The Pakistani action, which was reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, come as the fate of the FS-level talks hung in balance with just two days for foreign secretary S Jaishankar to go to Islamabad for talks with his counterpart on resuming the bilateral dialogue process.
READ ALSO:
Pathankot terror attack probe may not go 26/11 way, hopes India
Terrorists belonging to the dreaded Jaish-e-Mohammad, headed by Maulana Masood Azhar of Kandahar hijack episode, is believed by India to be behind the Pathankot terror attack in which seven security personnel were killed.
A Pakistani PMO statement issued after the meeting today said it noted with satisfaction that as part of Pakistan's commitment to eliminate terrorism from its soil and the expressed national resolve not to allow the territory to be used for acts of terrorism anywhere.
It said "considerable progress has been made in the investigations being carried out against terrorist elements reportedly linked to the Pathankot incident.
"Based on initial investigations in Pakistan, and the information provided, several individuals belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammad have been apprehended. The offices of the organisation are also being traced and sealed. Further investigations are underway," the statement said.
In the spirit of the cooperative approach, the statement said, it was also decided that in order to carry the process forward, additional information would be required for which the government of Pakistan is considering sending a SIT to Pathankot in consultation with government of India.
"The meeting reiterated that in line with our decision to counter and completely eliminate terrorism, Pakistan would remain engaged with India on this issue," the statement said.
Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif, director-general ISI Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar, interior minister Nisar Ali Khan, finance minister Ishaq Dar, adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz, Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif and other senior officials attended the meeting.
Last week India put the ball squarely in Pakistan's court, linking the FS-level talks to Islamabad's "prompt and decisive" action in the Pathankot terror attack for which it has provided "actionable intelligence".
An official said that close to a dozen militants have been held so far and were being questioned.
He refused to give further information like where they have been held or when they could be produced before any court.
In the terror attack on Pathankot Air Force base that began on January 2, six militants were also eliminated in an operation that lasted four days.
Pakistan is also considering sending a special investigation team to Pathankot as more information would be required to carry forward the process of cooperation with India.
The Pakistani action, which was reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, come as the fate of the FS-level talks hung in balance with just two days for foreign secretary S Jaishankar to go to Islamabad for talks with his counterpart on resuming the bilateral dialogue process.
READ ALSO:
Pathankot terror attack probe may not go 26/11 way, hopes India
Terrorists belonging to the dreaded Jaish-e-Mohammad, headed by Maulana Masood Azhar of Kandahar hijack episode, is believed by India to be behind the Pathankot terror attack in which seven security personnel were killed.
A Pakistani PMO statement issued after the meeting today said it noted with satisfaction that as part of Pakistan's commitment to eliminate terrorism from its soil and the expressed national resolve not to allow the territory to be used for acts of terrorism anywhere.
It said "considerable progress has been made in the investigations being carried out against terrorist elements reportedly linked to the Pathankot incident.
"Based on initial investigations in Pakistan, and the information provided, several individuals belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammad have been apprehended. The offices of the organisation are also being traced and sealed. Further investigations are underway," the statement said.
In the spirit of the cooperative approach, the statement said, it was also decided that in order to carry the process forward, additional information would be required for which the government of Pakistan is considering sending a SIT to Pathankot in consultation with government of India.
"The meeting reiterated that in line with our decision to counter and completely eliminate terrorism, Pakistan would remain engaged with India on this issue," the statement said.
Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif, director-general ISI Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar, interior minister Nisar Ali Khan, finance minister Ishaq Dar, adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz, Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif and other senior officials attended the meeting.
Last week India put the ball squarely in Pakistan's court, linking the FS-level talks to Islamabad's "prompt and decisive" action in the Pathankot terror attack for which it has provided "actionable intelligence".
Top Comment
This time around Pakistan elected government is showing some mettle. Let us watch the future follow up action.An official said that close to a dozen militants have been held so far and were being questioned.
He refused to give further information like where they have been held or when they could be produced before any court.
In the terror attack on Pathankot Air Force base that began on January 2, six militants were also eliminated in an operation that lasted four days.
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Pak army has derailed peace process several times in the past: Army chief
PTI | Jan 13, 2016, 04.37 PM IST
Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag. (TOI file photo)
NEW DELHI: Amid uncertainty over the upcoming foreign secretary-level talks, Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag on Wednesday squarely blamed the Pakistani Army for having derailed the peace process a "number of times" in the past.
His remarks came in the backdrop of reports that Pakistani establishment was not on board with their Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif when it came to talks with India.
"It has done it number of times. I am not saying in this (Pathankot) connection..." he said when asked whether he feels that the Pathankot attack was an attempt by the Pakistani Army and the ISI to disrupt the peace process.
There is speculation that the FS-level talks may be deferred with India wanting "prompt and decisive" action against the masterminds of the Pathankot terror attack that left seven soldiers killed and six terrorists gunned down.
Two days after defence minister Manohar Parrikar stressed the need to give back pain inflicted on India by organizations and individuals in the same coin, Suhag asserted that the Indian Army is ready and competent to carry out any task it is entrusted with and "fully prepared" to meet any threat to the country's security.
The Army chief, who was addressing his annual press conference ahead of the Army Day here, also expressed his "concern" at the infiltration along the borders with Pakistan in Punjab but made it clear that the responsibility lies with the BSF which is manning the area.
Suhag also indicated that the six Pakistani terrorists could well have been hiding inside the Pathankot air base base as he asserted that no one came in once the Army cordon was placed along the 24 km-long permitere wall.
He said it is a matter of "treason" if the terrorists had used the drug route to get in with local help.
The Army chief also rejected allegations about lack of coordination in response to the attack saying there was "complete synergy".
Refusing to comment on whether the FS-level talks should be held this week, the Army chief said it is a diplomatic and political decision.
On Pakistan's role in the attack, Suhag asserted that markings on medicines carried by them along with some of the equipment showed that they were from Pakistan.
He said the evidence has been shared with the Pakistani authorities but details will come out only after the investigation by the NIA.
The Army chief added that the motive of the Pathankot attack was to inflict maximum damage and generate a media hype.
The Army chief said that the security environment facing the nation is becoming more "complex and dynamic" and said that at least 17 terror training camps continue to be active in Pakistani Occupied Kashmir compared to 42 earlier.
He said some of the camps were shut down few years ago due to international pressure.
His remarks came in the backdrop of reports that Pakistani establishment was not on board with their Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif when it came to talks with India.
"It has done it number of times. I am not saying in this (Pathankot) connection..." he said when asked whether he feels that the Pathankot attack was an attempt by the Pakistani Army and the ISI to disrupt the peace process.
There is speculation that the FS-level talks may be deferred with India wanting "prompt and decisive" action against the masterminds of the Pathankot terror attack that left seven soldiers killed and six terrorists gunned down.
Two days after defence minister Manohar Parrikar stressed the need to give back pain inflicted on India by organizations and individuals in the same coin, Suhag asserted that the Indian Army is ready and competent to carry out any task it is entrusted with and "fully prepared" to meet any threat to the country's security.
The Army chief, who was addressing his annual press conference ahead of the Army Day here, also expressed his "concern" at the infiltration along the borders with Pakistan in Punjab but made it clear that the responsibility lies with the BSF which is manning the area.
Suhag also indicated that the six Pakistani terrorists could well have been hiding inside the Pathankot air base base as he asserted that no one came in once the Army cordon was placed along the 24 km-long permitere wall.
He said it is a matter of "treason" if the terrorists had used the drug route to get in with local help.
The Army chief also rejected allegations about lack of coordination in response to the attack saying there was "complete synergy".
Refusing to comment on whether the FS-level talks should be held this week, the Army chief said it is a diplomatic and political decision.
On Pakistan's role in the attack, Suhag asserted that markings on medicines carried by them along with some of the equipment showed that they were from Pakistan.
He said the evidence has been shared with the Pakistani authorities but details will come out only after the investigation by the NIA.
The Army chief added that the motive of the Pathankot attack was to inflict maximum damage and generate a media hype.
The Army chief said that the security environment facing the nation is becoming more "complex and dynamic" and said that at least 17 terror training camps continue to be active in Pakistani Occupied Kashmir compared to 42 earlier.
He said some of the camps were shut down few years ago due to international pressure.
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11-year-old boy mimics hanging on TV show, dies
PTI | Jan 13, 2016, 04.33 PM IST
Representative picture
MUMBAI: Demonstrating a reel life 'stunt' in front of his elder sister allegedly cost an 11-year-old boy his life at Marathwada region in Maharashtra.
Shaikh Sajed Shaikh Wajed, the Class 4 student of an Urdu school, was at his home at Flowers' Quarters in Beed district's Ambajogai town with his siblings on Monday when the incident happened, a police officer said.
"Sajed was apparently showing his elder sister how hanging takes place in TV serials," the officer said.
Sajed's father, a labourer at a brick kiln, was away as was his mother, at the time of the incident.
The boy allegedly attempted a stunt by hanging with the help of a rope after coming back from school. The child had a meal with his brother and sister and was watching TV before committing the act, police said.
"We have registered a case of accidental death," the officer said.
Police said Sajed had demanded a bicycle from his father some time ago and was unhappy that his wish wasn't fulfilled.
Shaikh Sajed Shaikh Wajed, the Class 4 student of an Urdu school, was at his home at Flowers' Quarters in Beed district's Ambajogai town with his siblings on Monday when the incident happened, a police officer said.
"Sajed was apparently showing his elder sister how hanging takes place in TV serials," the officer said.
Sajed's father, a labourer at a brick kiln, was away as was his mother, at the time of the incident.
The boy allegedly attempted a stunt by hanging with the help of a rope after coming back from school. The child had a meal with his brother and sister and was watching TV before committing the act, police said.
"We have registered a case of accidental death," the officer said.
Police said Sajed had demanded a bicycle from his father some time ago and was unhappy that his wish wasn't fulfilled.
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