Pakistan sets up JIT to probe Pathankot terror attack

Islamabad: Pakistan has set up a five-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the Pathankot airbase terror attack , a week after it lodged an FIR into the incident.

The JIT would be visiting the airbase next month to gather evidence subject to permission by the Indian government to conduct its own investigation.

The probe team comprises Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Additional Inspector General of Police (IGP) Muhammad Tahir Rai (convener), Lahore Deputy Director General (DDG) Intelligence Bureau Mohammad Azim Arshad, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt-Col Tanvir Ahmed, Military Intelligence Lt-Col Irfan Mirza and Gujjaranwala CTD Investigating Officer Shahid Tanveer (members).

Earlier, a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) was set up by the government to carry out initial probe into the case based on the leads given by India.

A police official said that the SIT would become dysfunctional once government formally transferred its powers to the JIT.

The Pakistani team of experts is expected to visit India "shortly" to collect more evidence into the attack.

Pakistan on February 18 lodged an FIR in connection with the Pathankot terror attack without naming JeM chief Masood Azhar who India has accused of having masterminded the strike.

The FIR by the Counter-Terrorism Department of Punjab police has been lodged on the basis of information provided by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval that four attackers probably crossed from Pakistan into India and attacked the airbase on January 2.

The attack led to the postponement of a scheduled meeting between Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan and India in January in Islamabad. Since then, no date has been fixed for talks.