The Pathankot attack suspect and Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar will not be treated like the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the Pakistani High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit has said in an interview to CNN-IBN.
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He is confident about a better investigation in the Pathankot attack as, unlike in the 2008 terror attacks, the two countries have not been quick to indulge in blame game this time around.
The positive outlook of both countries, he believes, is apparent from the fact that the Foreign Secretary-level peace talks are scheduled to be held soon.
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What has changed after the Pathankot attack and why is Pakistan now ready to co-operate with India? In reply to this question, Basit is quick to cite the 2014 Peshawar school attack which he says has strengthened Pakistan’s resolve to tackle terror groups head on.
After the Peshawar attack, he explains, they there is a “national consensus” on taking “decisive action” against groups like the Jaish-e-Mohammad – the terror group India suspects is responsible for the Pathankot attack in which seven Indian security personnel and six gunmen were killed.
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Basit justifies Pakistan’s seriousness in the probe with the high-level six member Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed and sent to India. The SIT will start its probe once the NIA completes its investigation.
The Pakistan SIT’s visit to Pathankot has provided enough grounds for a solid investigation, Basit added.
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