New Delhi: Crucial evidence confirming involvement of Pakistan in the Pathakot attack has been handed over to the NIA officials by US, through the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MULAT). The evidence consists of over 1000 pages of chats and conversations between Pathankot attack handler Kashif Jaan and the four fidayeens who were eventually killed.
Sources said, the conversations make it clear that the terror strike on Pathankot was micro-managed from Pakistan. According to reports, the four fidayeen of JeM, identified as Nasir Hussain from Punjab, Abu Bakar from Gujranwala and Umar Farooq and Abdul Qayum from Sindh, were in regular touch with their handlers in Pakistan. The documents also include Kashif Jaan’s conversations with other Pakistan-based JeM office-bearers.

The reports also stated that Jaan was using a Facebook account connected to the same mobile number which the attackers called from Pathankot after abducting Punjab police SP Salwinder Singh, apart from Whatsapp chats and use of other platforms. These accounts, operated by Jaan, were accessed around the time of the attack using IP addresses of telecom firms based in Pakistan.

Facebook pages containing Jihadi material and videos and comments condemning arrest of Jaish cadres in Pakistan have also been found. The NIA is investigating the documents. Indian officials have approached US to provide details of these accounts and chats.

Interestingly, Home minister Rajnath Singh will be visiting Pakistan for the SAARC interior ministers’ and participate in home ministers’ conference in August.