New Delhi: As investigators from India and Pakistan met here on Monday over the probe into Pathankot attack, a political storm erupted with Opposition parties hitting out at the Modi government over the visiting team including an ISI official being allowed “limited access” to the IAF base there on Tuesday.
The visit of Pakistan’s five-member JIT that includes an ISI official marked the first such trip from the neighbouring country to probe a terror case in India.
Read: Pathankot probe: Congress slams Centre for giving access to Pak JIT
The JIT, which is headed by Chief of Punjab’s Counter Terrorism Department Muham-mad Tahir Rai, raised several questions about the probe which were answered by the NIA team which has been probing the case.
The visit of Pakistani probe team has triggered a political slugfest with Opposition parties criticising the government for exposing its defence assets to Pakistan.
Read: Pathankot attack: Ahead of Pak SIT's visit, NIA releases photos of terrorists
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “surrendering” to Pakistan by allowing its investigators to probe the Pathankot attack.
“India is saying that Pathankot terror attack was Pakistan-sponsored and in this situation, how can ISI probe against itself?” he asked.
Earlier, ‘ISI go back’ banners were raised in the Delhi Assembly.
Pakistan JIT is cooperating: NIA
Even as investigators from India and Pakistan met here on Monday over the probe into Pathankot terror, the Congress, too, slammed the government for allowing the Pakistani Joint Investigation (JIT) team to probe the Pathankot terror attack, likening it to an accused investigating himself.
Party’s chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said by this action, the Modi government has “recognised” that Pakistan does not have any role in perpetuating terror in India.
Read: Pakistan probe team has no access to Pathankot airbase, only crime scene
Talking to reporters in Chandigarh, he said it appears to be a case of accused investigating himself. The NIA Director General Sharad Kumar said the meeting took place in a cordial manner adding the Pakistani side was “cooperative” during the day-long deliberations.
Read: Nothing wrong if Pakistan wants to probe Pathankot terror case: BJP tells Congress
Meanwhile Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar downplayed the issue and said the “crime scene” at the Pathankot airbase was with the NIA.
