Pakistan finally registers FIR in Pathankot attack

NO DETAILS FIR has no mention of terror group Jaish, is silent on Pak probe

Pakistan has registered an FIR against unnamed perpetrators of a terrorist attack on the Pathankot airbase, paving the way for a visit to India next month by a team to take forward an investigation into the assault. The FIR, filed against unidentified persons at the counter-terrorism department police station at Gujranwala in Punjab on Thursday, makes no mention of the Jaish- eMohammed, blamed by India for the January 2 attack that killed seven security personnel.

It mentions action is being taken on the basis of information provided by the Indian national security adviser but is silent on what the Pakistani probe has uncovered so far.

“The registration of an FIR by Pakistan in connection with the Pathankot probe provides a legal framework under which a team from there can visit India,” said a senior Indian official who did not want to be named.

However, officials on both sides said it was too early to say the FIR would help resume the stalled dialogue or set up a meeting between the Indian and Pakistani prime ministers on the margins of a nuclear security summit in Washington next month.

The registration of the FIR coincided with two key meetings in New Delhi – Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit called on foreign secretary S Jaishankar while National Security Adviser Ajit Doval held a meeting with top officials of security agencies and the foreign ministry, at which a decision was made to allow a visit by the Pakistani joint investigation team.

New Delhi was informed about the FIR through diplomatic channels and a copy of the document was shared subsequently, top government sources told HT.

The meeting chaired by Doval, which was attended by the foreign and home secretaries and chiefs of the Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing and National Investigation Agency, discussed all issues pertaining to Pakistan.

Following the registration of the FIR, Rana Sanaullah, law minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province, said a joint investigation team ( JIT) will probe the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.

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