Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh today said while the talks should continue between India and Pakistan, at the same time it (Pakistan) must act against the rogue elements like the Jaish Mohammad and United Jihad Council which have owned up the responsibility for the attack on Pathankot airbase.The PCC president also said that instead of putting the NSG in charge of the operations in Pathankot, it should have been handled by the army which has better expertise in counter-insurgency operations.Talking to reporters after attending the bhog ceremony of Shri Jagat Mitter Soni, father of senior party leader and MLA Om Prakash Soni here today, Capt Amarinder also said that it was not proper to put blame on the Punjab Police for any lapse as they had already sounded the alert in relevant quarters after learning about the infiltration by the militants. Besides, he added, there are certain vulnerable points along the international border which will be difficult to seal completely.
Replying to a question on whether Prime Minister Modi was right in going to Lahore, which was immediately followed by attack on Pathankot airbase, the former Chief Minister said, there was no alternative to peace and the talks must continue. Moreover, he added, peace between India and Pakistan is not only in the interest of both the countries, but much more in the interest of Punjab which will stand benefitted more than any other state.However he added, since the United Jihad Council had owned up the responsibility for the attacks, it becomes responsibility of Pakistan to act against them. “Both UJC and Jaish Mohammad are based out of Pakistan and the authorities there know everything about these organisations”, he pointed out, adding, if Pakistan is really sincere in taking forward the peace process it must act against such elements.To another question he said, the combing and clearing operation should have been handed over to the army which has a lot of expertise in counter-insurgency operations as in Kashmir. Here also, it was a jungle area where counterinsurgency experts from army could have been put on job.
Capt Amarinder also disclosed that all the senior party leaders besides him and including general secretary in charge Shakeel Ahmad, Campaign Committee chairperson Ms Ambika Soni, CLP leader Charanjit Singh Channi, AICC secretary Harish Chaudhary and former PCC president Partap Singh Bajwa will be attending the bhog ceremony of those martyred in the operations at Gurdaspur.