A handler in the Pathankot attacks, who gave directions to the terrorist from Pakistan, has reportedly crossed the border into Afghanistan. A member of the Joint Investigation Team, which is looking into the January 2 attack on the Indian Air Force base, made the disclosures about the alleged Jaish-e-Mohammed operative to PTI. The operative, believed to be in his early 20s, had allegedly spoken with the terrorists more than two dozen times over the phone from a tribal area in Pakistan during the attacks.
The official did not disclose his identity. However, JeM chief Masood Azhar claimed during interrogation that the handler in question had quit the group some time ago.
The JIT official also said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had put “immense pressure” on investigation agencies to investigate the incident thoroughly. No one has been charged in the case yet, even though the Counter-Terrorism Department of the Punjab Police had registered an FIR against the alleged attackers and their handlers.
The Pathankot attack took place days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sharif on his birthday on December 25. Seven Indian security personnel and five militants were killed in a gunfight at the airbase.
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