Pathankot attack: Pak's joint probe team to seek DNA, fingerprints of terrorists

Islamabad: The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) set up by Pakistan to probe the Pathankot attack have decided to seek from India the DNA reports and fingerprints of the terrorists killed amid its keenness to expedite the probe, an official said.

The team, headed by IG Rai Tahir of Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department, held a meeting in Islamabad to discuss the progress in probe investigation into the incident. The meeting deliberated on the information received from interrogation of several suspects held so far, the official said.

According to the official, the team decided to expedite the probe, whose progress is clearly linked to the Foreign Secretary-level talks between the two countries which was to be held today but was indefinitely delayed.

The team decided to seek information from India about DNA reports and fingerprints of killed attackers, he said. The team also decided to seek other information from India like how the terrorists entered the country, about their stay and whether there was any insider link.

It is expected that the team will also visit India to probe the attack.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had earlier this week formed the JIT after India provided the leads and linked the Foreign Secretary-level talks to Islamabad's decisive action on the terror attack on its air base.

The JIT comprises officials from Intelligence Bureau (IB), Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence.

The Pathankot Air Force Base was attacked on the night of January 2 by terrorists believed to be of Pakistani origin. Seven military personnel were martyred after a gun battle that lasted for over 80 hours.