India asks Pak to inform 5 days prior to Pathankot probe visit: Minister

Islamabad: India has asked Pakistan to inform it at least five days prior to a planned visit by Pakistani investigators to inspect the site of the Pathankot terror attack, interior minister said here on Sunday.

"They (Indian authorities) said that let us know at least five days ahead of the visit," Nisar Ali Khan told reporters as he said India has agreed to the proposal of sending a probe team to India over the January 2 attack on the key Air Force base in Pathankot.

The two sides were in touch over the visit of the special team to inspect the site of the attack, Khan said, adding that the Foreign Office has written to India about the idea of sending the team and India has already written back.

Khan did not give the time of the visit of the team but official sources said it could take place early March.

He also said that Pakistan has arrested several suspects and investigation was going on.

India had also given some phone numbers, which were included in the FIR and probe was going on based on the information, he added.

Pakistan has already lodged an FIR into the Pathankot attack which has paved the way for the prosecution of anyone who was found guilty of involvement in the attack.

The FIR by the Counter-Terrorism Department of Punjab police, however, did not name Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, whom India has accused of having masterminded the deadly assault.