Pathankot: Claiming "complete involvement" of people from across the border in Pathankot terror attack, a top Army Commander today said Pakistan should take action on dossiers concerning evidence of the militant strike.
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Western Command, Lt General K J Singh also said a multi-agency response has been put in place to scuttle any terror attacks on security establishments.
"You know dossiers (on evidence of involvement of Pakistani elements in Pathankot terror attack) have been handed over to them twice. So they should take action," Singh told a press conference here on the sidelines of an investiture ceremony.
"That (action by Pakistan) will foster good relation between two countries," Singh added. Investigations are at primary kind of stage, he said, adding, "While I share concern (over Pak investigation), but it may be better to allow diplomats and official agencies—they have empowered people-- they are aware that they are taking all measures in this regard."
"I am sure that they will take measures to highlight this issue and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will take it up and we hope to see that," Singh said.
Taking a dig at Pakistan over classification of terrorism into "good and bad", the Army Commander said "The problem is that if you start classifying terrorism and use it as a strategic weapon, one day it is going to backfire."
"So, we advice and counsel our neighbour that they must realise this that people who are terrorists should not be classified as good and bad terrorists or their agents. They (Pakistan) should be ruthless to them (terrorists)," Singh said.
Replying to another question on Pakistan's involvement in Pathankot terror attack, the Army Commander said, "There is a complete involvement. You have seen shoes (recovered from terrorists), food packets. You have seen a note of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) claiming that they have taken revenge (for the hanging) of Afzal Guru, from Udhampur to Samba and beyond."
"There is complete involvement of people from Pakistan and whether it is the state agencies (involved in it), that still needs to be investigated," Singh said, adding "JeM is there and there is complete involvement of their people."
On reported goof up in security coordination, Singh said an enquiry was on. "If I make any comment it will not be proper. NIA is doing investigation. Army has also ordered a detailed probe. General Campose is holding a full investigation into it so whatever lessons will come out they will be shared with you," he said.
"We have learnt lessons from the past. Our PM has also said lessons have been learnt from such incidents. Those lessons and corrections have been applied and some are being applied, so we are prepared," Singh said.
To a question on threats by Hafiz Saeed to engineer fresh terror attacks, he said, "There is multi-agency response which is in place."
"There is grave threat. There are great concerns. What Hafiz Saeed is doing, it is dangerous. He has done it earlier.
We should not take it lightly," the Army Commander said.
"There is also a competition between militants of various terror outfits. If one incident was engineered by JeM another would be done of Lasher-e-Toiba (LeT). They fight for attention between themselves," Singh said, adding that measures have been taken to tackle such threats with multi-agency response. "The Border Security Force, the Army, the Police and technical surveillance are involved in it," he said.
He said a couple of days back Northern Army Commander had said there is a presence of considerable number of people (militants) who are on launching basis and staging areas, so there are regular inputs to that effect.
"We are concerned about it. We monitor it. We have inputs on that," he said.
He said that elaborate measures have been put in place and security strengthened along the border following Pathankot terror attack.
He said 200-300 militants are across the border (waiting to infiltrate into India).
