Sharif dials Modi after NSAs confer

On a day of high-level diplomatic activity over the attack on the Pathankot airbase, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif telephoned Prime Minister Narendra Modi, assuring him of Islamabad’s support in investigating the leads provided by New Delhi, hours after their National Security Advisors spoke to each other.

Acknowledging the urgency of the situation, Mr. Sharif placed the call from Colombo, during his state visit there, and the conversation indicated that both Prime Ministers were in favour of continuing the recently renewed diplomatic engagement.

In the call that lasted about 15 minutes, Mr. Modi reportedly made it clear that the evidence from the attack on the air force base in Punjab led directly to a group in Pakistan. “Prime Minister Modi strongly emphasised the need for Pakistan to take firm and immediate action against the organisations and individuals responsible for and linked to the Pathankot terrorist attack. Specific and actionable information in this regard has been provided to Pakistan,” the statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs shortly after the telephone call on Tuesday afternoon, said.

Mr. Sharif assured Mr. Modi that his government was investigating the leads provided by India to Pakistan’s National Security Adviser, Gen. (retd.) Janjua. According to Mr. Sharif’s spokesperson, the Pakistan Prime Minister said his government was “working on the leads and information provided by the Indian government.”

It is the first time the two leaders have spoken since they met on December 25 when Mr. Modi made a surprise visit to Lahore, and comes in sharply contrasting circumstances, as the attack on the airbase has thrown a cloud over the future of India-Pakistan engagement.

The spokesperson told The Hindu Mr. Sharif also pointed out that “whenever a serious effort to bring peace between two countries was under way, terrorists try to derail the process,” adding: “Both the Prime Ministers agreed that a cordial and cooperative relationship between two countries would be the most appropriate response to the nefarious designs of the terrorists.”

Source: The Hindu, 06-Jan-2016