Pakistani Investigators Can Question Pathankot Attack Witnesses: Sources

New Delhi: For the first time ever Pakistani investigators will be allowed to question witnesses in Pathankot attack probe, though not security personnel, sources have said. A joint investigative team from Pakistan comprising representatives from the powerful Inter Services Intelligence or ISI, Military Intelligence and Police will arrive in Delhi tomorrow

"The Pakistan team can question witnesses, but not personnel from the NSG, Garud or BSF," sources said. The elite commando units - National Security Guard or NSG and the Airforce commando unit Garud - along with the Border Security Force or BSF, that mans the India-Pakistan border in Punjab, were involved in the operation to eliminate terrorists who struck at the Pathankot air base on January 2.

Sources said the area of attack has been barricaded to prevent any view of the technical area where military assets are located and other sensitive areas. The team from Pakistan - formed on instructions of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif - will be allowed limited access to the site of the terror strike. Six Pakistani terrorists who had crossed over into Punjab were killed in the attack. The National Investigation Agency says it has established the identities of those six but also those who regulated their actions from Pakistani soil.

Sources said the NIA will share those details with the Pakistani team in their meeting on Monday. When the Pakistani investigators visit Pathankot on Tuesday they will also be taken to visit the point of breach on the Indo-Pak border in the Pathankot sector.

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India is allowing this degree of access to Pakistani investigators for the first time hoping Pakistan will reciprocate the gesture.  It is in the "spirit of goodwill and cooperation" that the access is being extended, sources said. At a later date, India may ask Pakistan to permit a team of Indian investigators to visit Pakistan.

India will also ask Pakistan to share the details of the investigations so far in Pakistan. "Much of the evidence lies in Pakistan, till now we have no details, we hope Pakistan will also be sharing details of their investigations with us," top sources told NDTV.

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