Channel NewsAsia, New Delhi :
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged his Pakistani counterpart Tuesday (Jan 5) to take “firm and immediate action” against those behind an attack on an Indian air force base that left seven soldiers dead.
Modi’s office said New Delhi had given Islamabad “specific and actionable information” on the audacious attack, which came just days after a landmark visit to Pakistan by the Indian premier raised hopes of improved relations.
Security officials suspect the gunmen belonged to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, the group that staged a 2001 attack on the Indian parliament which brought the two countries to the brink of war.
In a statement, Modi’s office said Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had telephoned him to discuss the attack on the Pathankot base in the northern state of Punjab near the border with Pakistan.
Modi “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,” said the statement.
“Specific and actionable information in this regard has been provided to Pakistan.” It said Sharif had given assurances that his government would take “prompt and decisive action”.
Pakistan had already condemned the attack, which began on Saturday with a dawn raid on the vast air base that triggered a 14-hour gunbattle. In a statement the Pakistan government said it was working on “leads” provided by India and called for both sides to remain committed to dialogue.
“The challenge of terrorism calls for strengthening our resolve to a cooperative approach,” it said.
Some analysts have suggested the rare targeting of an Indian military installation outside disputed Kashmir may have been aimed at derailing talks between the nuclear-armed neighbours, who have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged his Pakistani counterpart Tuesday (Jan 5) to take “firm and immediate action” against those behind an attack on an Indian air force base that left seven soldiers dead.
Modi’s office said New Delhi had given Islamabad “specific and actionable information” on the audacious attack, which came just days after a landmark visit to Pakistan by the Indian premier raised hopes of improved relations.
Security officials suspect the gunmen belonged to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, the group that staged a 2001 attack on the Indian parliament which brought the two countries to the brink of war.
In a statement, Modi’s office said Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had telephoned him to discuss the attack on the Pathankot base in the northern state of Punjab near the border with Pakistan.
Modi “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,” said the statement.
“Specific and actionable information in this regard has been provided to Pakistan.” It said Sharif had given assurances that his government would take “prompt and decisive action”.
Pakistan had already condemned the attack, which began on Saturday with a dawn raid on the vast air base that triggered a 14-hour gunbattle. In a statement the Pakistan government said it was working on “leads” provided by India and called for both sides to remain committed to dialogue.
“The challenge of terrorism calls for strengthening our resolve to a cooperative approach,” it said.
Some analysts have suggested the rare targeting of an Indian military installation outside disputed Kashmir may have been aimed at derailing talks between the nuclear-armed neighbours, who have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947.
