Pakistan-based JeM's role in Pathankot terror attack exposed by US dossier handed to NIA

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Delhi: Pakistan's lie as far as fomenting terrorism in India has been nailed yet again.

The United States has handed over certain documents to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) which could strengthen India's assertions of complicity of Pakistan-based terror group​ Jaish-e-Mohammad in the attack on the Pathankot IAF base.

As per a report in The Times of India, these comprise of over 1,000 pages of chats and conversations between JeM handler Kashif Jaan and the four fidayeen (identified as Nasir Hussain, Punjab province, Abu Bakar, Gujranwala, Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayum, both from Sindh).

The conversations prove that terror strike on Pathankot was micro-managed from Pakistan.

The four fidayeen of JeM (who were eventually killed) were in regular touch with their handlers in Pakistan.

The Daily quoted sources as saying that the documents also include Kashif Jaan's conversations with other Pakistan-based JeM office-bearers.

Further, Jaan was reportedly using a Facebook account which was connected to the same mobile number which the attackers called from Pathankot after abducting Punjab police SP Salwinder Singh.

He was also using other mediums like WhatsApp. The investigating agency officials are analysing the documents.

Moreover, the terrorists had also called another number in Pakistan connected to a Facebook account of 'Mulla Daadullah'.

The report said that these accounts were accessed before and around the time of the attack using IP addresses of telecom firms (Telenor and Pakistan TeleCommunications Company Ltd, Islamabad) based in Pakistan.

Numbers connected to Al-Rahmat Trust (JeM's financial arm) for which technical details were sought from the US, was also called by the terrorists.

The NIA had sought the help of US to provide details of these accounts and chats. 

The US has shared the proof through Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT).

The terrorists had entered the strategic air base at Pathankot on the intervening night of January one-two this year and mounted a brazen assault. 

In the fierce encounter that had ensued, seven security personnel besides four terrorists were killed.

India has blamed JeM for the attack and has sought action against the perpetrators of the strike which had led to the postponement of India-Pakistan Foreign Secretary-level talks.

India had said JeM chief Masood Azhar masterminded the attack.

The NIA has handed over a list of 300 questions to Pakistan besides seeking voice samples of Azhar, his brother Abdul Rauf and Khayyam Baber (mother of slain terrorist Nasir). Nasir claimed to have spoken to his mother during the attack.

Pakistan team probing the Pathankot terror strike had visited India in March. 

(With Agency inputs)