Pak agencies not directly involved in Pathankot raid: NIA

There is no evidence so far to indicate direct complicity of the government of Pakistan or Pakistani agencies in the attack on the Pathankot air base earlier this year, said Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA) Sharad Kumar.

"No evidence to show that Pakistan government or Pakistani government agency was helping Jaish-e=Mohammed or Masood Azhar or his aides who carried out the Pathankot attack." Sharad Kumar said in a TV interview.

He said NIA has completed its India leg of investigation and is waiting for Pakistan to allow an NIA team to visit Pakistan to complete the investigations.

"We are hopeful," Kumar said when asked if Pakistan will allow the NIA visit on the basis of reciprocity as India had allowed a Pakistan investigating team to visit Pathankot. He also clarified that a charge sheet in this case will be filed even if Pakistan does not give NIA access. "We have sufficient and stringent evidence against Maulana Masood Azhar and his brother Rauf Azhar and we will include those in our charge sheet," the DG added.

He also said there was no evidence that the attackers had inside help at the air base.

Asked about security lapses, he said, ''That is for the government to see. We are an investigating agency. We are investigating the case as a crime. we will not recommend any action for lapses or security breach.''