New Delhi, June 3
The reported statement of the NIA chief that there is no hand of the Pakistan government or its agencies in helping the JeM carry out the Pathankot attack has triggered sparring between India and Pakistan with New Delhi saying that involvement of its nationals “is an accepted fact”.Even as the NIA backtracked on its chief Sharad Kumar’s statement, Islamabad said his remarks were a “vindication” of its long-standing position in that regard. The row started over a written interview by Kumar to a television channel in which he said, “So far, (there is) no evidence to show that the Pakistan government or any Pakistani government agency was helping Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) or Masood Azhar or his aides carry out the Pathankot attack.”Later, the NIA issued a statement saying the observation attributed to the NIA DG is “strongly refuted”. It said his statement had been misquoted. Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Vikas Swarup said, “I understand that the DG NIA has issued a clarification that his words are being misinterpreted. Let me clarify the position. The involvement of Pakistan’s nationals in the Pathankot air base attack is an accepted fact.” He further said “enough information” has also been provided to the Pakistani authorities through two Letters Rogatory to conduct investigation in Pakistan so that “all those associated in Pakistan with planning, support and execution of the attack are brought to justice”. — Agencies
What Sharad said on Pathankot attackSo far (there is) no evidence to show that the Pakistan government or any Pakistani government agency was helping Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) or Masood Azhar or his aides carry out the Pathankot attack. – Sharad Kumar, NIA DG
No clean chit to Pak official machinery: RijijuThere is no question of a clean chit or any clarification in connection with the terror attack on the Pathankot airbase. Investigation is on – Kiren Rijiju, union minister of state for home.
