ISI, Pakistan army responsible for Pathankot attack

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh on Sunday said Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI and its army were responsible for the attack on the Air Force base in Pathankot in which seven security personnel were killed.

“The entire atmosphere is being vitiated by the ISI, the (Pakistani) army and the separatist groups and their henchmen who have done this (attacked the Air Force base),” Singh said on the sidelines of a function here.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken a daring step by visiting Pakistan last month, however the forces who do not want peace vitiated the atmosphere, he said.

“Whatever the issue is, it has to be resolved through dialogue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a big daring step, a major diplomatic step...while on his way back from Afghanistan, (he) went to Lahore and attended the marriage ceremony at the house of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,” he said.

“That (the visit) sent a message, but the entire atmosphere is being vitiated by the ISI, the army and the separatist groups and their henchmen who have done this,” he said.

The central government was reviewing the situation and will take further steps keeping in mind the interests of the people of the country, he said.

Appreciating the role played by the security forces, Singh said that they played a commendable role in containing the attack.

“Yesterday’s incident...I must say that our security forces, the army, the Punjab police have done a wonderful job, the three men who laid down their life for the nation as the terrorists neutralised by the security forces were fully equipped,” he said.

He further said that the incident sends a message to Pakistan and the agencies there that the Indian security agencies won’t let their nefarious designs succeed in India.

“So this sends a message to Pakistan and the agencies in Pakistan that are doing this, that such type of actions won’t succeed here.

“This is clear message to them that as far as our security is concerned, there is no compromise on it. And we also agree that all the issues can be resolved only through dialogue,” he said.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/isi-pakistan-army-responsible-for-pathankot-attack-jk-deputy-cm/article8061380.ece