India stands its ground, says Pathankot airbase attack evidence holds in court
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said three phone calls, reportedly made by the attackers to their Pakistani handlers and family members, were intercepted legally.
India rejected on Friday Islamabad’s contention that evidence of Pakistani involvement in the Pathankot air base attack was insufficient, saying investigators have legally admissible proof to confirm involvement of militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Pakistani nationals.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said three phone calls, reportedly made by the attackers to their Pakistani handlers and family members, were intercepted legally.
These calls were intercepted after Punjab SP Salwinder Singh informed about his abduction by four men in military fatigues on the night of December 31, 2015. The phone belonged to Salwinder’s friend Rajesh Verma, who was travelling with him.
“Our evidence can stand any international scrutiny,” said NIA chief Sharad Kumar.
The NIA also found the attackers brought ‘Made in Pakistan’ food packets to sustain themselves after crossing over the border.
“When we presented the evidence about these calls to the Joint Investigation Team that came from Pakistan, they never rebutted it,” said Kumar.
NIA officials said JeM top operative Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, brother of founder Maulana Masood Azhar, claimed responsibility for the attack in a 14-minute-long audio clip. “The onus is on Pakistan to probe into the JeM links of attackers’ families in Pakistan. We have shared DNA samples of dead attackers which can be matched the family,” he added.
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