ISLAMABAD, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) — Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Tuesday told his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in a telephonic talk that “terrorists always try to derail the process of peace between two countries.”
The prime ministers spoke following militants’ attack on an Indian airbase at Pathankot as the incident has led to speculations about the delay in the high level diplomatic talks later this month.
“Our government was working on the leads and information provided by the Indian government, Pakistan would investigate this matter,” Nawaz Sharif said, according to the PM’s office.
Sharif pointed out to his Indian counterpart that whenever a serious effort to bring peace between two countries was underway, terrorists try to derail the process.
“Both the PMs agreed that a cordial and cooperative relationship between the two countries would be the most appropriate response to the nefarious designs of the terrorists,” a statement said.
A group of gunmen in military fatigues entered the base firing with automatic weapons and hurling grenades on Saturday. Though the gunfight inside the airbase has stopped, the operation to clear the base is ongoing since then.
Reports said six attackers have been killed at the base. However, Indian officials confirmed the death of only five as the body of the sixth was believed to be under the rubbles.
Seven Indian troops, including a NSG commando, were killed fighting attackers inside the base.
Nawaz Sharif also conveyed sorrow and grief on the loss in Pathankot terror attack.
The attack came just days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Lahore to give boost to the renewed peace initiative between the two neighbors.
Indian media has reported that New Delhi is mulling cancelling or delaying the Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan following the attack.
Reports from the Indian-controlled Kashmir say that an alliance of the Kashmiri separatist groups, the United Jihad Council, claimed responsibility for the attack. Leader of the alliance, Syed Salahuddin, also confirmed his alliance was involved in an audio message.
Indian media has previously alleged that the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed militant outfit was behind the attack.