So this is a positive step and development...

Mr Aziz, these are important issues of international fight against terrorism Stop playing with balls and get serious. Only your country suffers due to you taking such stance

Heart warming response from Pakistan... Why can't our two countries be like this all the time?? We need to learn from other countries on how to build friendships and prosper... It's very sad that we fight like 5 year old school boys..

i concur, a phone number is a solid solid evidence ... bulls eye

No point doing talks. India will only resolve issues when it benefits them.

Finally mr. Aziz calling spade A SPADE

I am an Indian. I love Pakistan and I hate terrorists. Hope Pakistan will ban all the terrorists organization and India & Pakistan may become developed country will less expenses on arms and more expenses on economy.

So "unregistered" phone numbers can be identified if required...

Okay, are authorities going to arrest someone like the owner of the phone for questioning?

This is unprecedented! Finally realizing that there no good or bad terrorists!

Thanks god. What else more is there to say.

so then in the phone company?

This is a very positive development. Admitting the Jaish connection itself is a deviation from the previous pattern of outright denial.

Protective custody? Protection from who?

Pakistan is cooperating, now hope India will end occupation of Jammu & Kashmir and will act as per United Nations resolutions.

Cant believe this - clear sign that Pakistan is changing! What a pleasant news for the world!!

@Shiraj Protected BY who will be a better question.

Good and honest development!! Hope the perpetrators will not be spared

Pakistan finally accepting. Good investigation, kerp up the good work.

more proofs any one ?

It is funny that people who are alleged to attack the air base had phone which point to Jaish.

No need to resume talks with India; the day Pathankot happened, town was totally closed, as if well prepared for something to happen.

Its not a big issue with IT India to implant telephone numbers.

@Zulfiqar My dear friend, solution to J&K is already known, The only possible outcome will be to make LOC as international boundary. That too will come with lots of riders. If anyone has any other solution in mind. Probably its time for them to wake up and say Good Morning.

@ZAK , It is first time that you are saying correct and truth.

Why is this fool accepting this openly ???

@Azam so much for a terror victim nation.

@Tariq a very good question indeed. Is this investigation being conducted by Punjab Police?

@Zulfiqar i hope u sud read the UN resolution first

Plz continue to maintain this transparency. While its unfortunate reality to have a dispute and a conflict, people should atleast know the truth about who is fighting whom.

Since the Pakistani govt now will be treated as enemy by our enemy JeM, our Indian govt must support Pakistan govt in every possible front.

@Zulfiqar Co-operating on stopping terrorism is not a negotiation tactic. Don't corner yourself with your UN resolution reference... UN has stopped talking about it.

For how long such unconstitutional organizations allowed to execute such actions which bring trouble rather than pride? Why can't the government control such groups and cut their wings rather than allowing them a free hand to tarnish Pakistan's image on international stage and create domestic dischord?

and what after FIR, sure nothing will happen like many other cases..

Now let us see India show some progress on Samjhota Express

@Tariq naaahh..not obvious mian..logical..

@rehan Samjhota Express culprits were found by India and are already in Jail since long.

So an organization which has supposedly been banned for over a decade still has active offices that need to be shut down. A terrorist whose freedom was negotiated for the lives of hostages of a hijacked plane has finally been put in protective custody 15 years after the fact.

At least they can't be blamed for not acting promptly.

Thanks! If any criminal activity performed on Pak soil, then unearth the truth for own credibility. Pakistan do not need to satisfy India or Us or abcd. Sovereign Pakistan should go along with the path of truth without fear or favour.

@Zulfiqar VERY SMART? LOL. Funny

Under the command of Mr. Nawaz Shariff there were sincere attempts earlier also to resolve issue with India. Hope this time some progress will happend.

@Karachities.. I am with you!!!!!!

I salute NS for the change... let things change for better

Let's hope India will also take some steps to investigate raw's involvement, alleged in Pakistan.

Positive development. Admitting this openly is a brave act. We need to understand that these terrorists are common enemies of both Pakistan and India. No need to shield them anymore. BTW what more evidence are you looking for?

@Komal S UN resolution is the solution to JK. If India backs out with that, back out all talks on it. Full stop

@Zulfiqar Do you know the UN resolutions?

This is a positive step. Hope both side keep their cool and work on the positives. Make sure that third parties in both countries can't derail it. Best of luck to both PMs.

the fake cell phone calls like from planes many years ago? that were traced. log out

Track was not surprise. Acceptance is great positive step.

Now India would offer a lot of cooperation on Samjhota Express, I am sure !

Its good for the future of Pakistan that its taking action against these non-state actors who are using Pakistan as a sanctuary. Good job by Zarb-e-Azb("War on Terror"/ National action Plan) against the terrorists.

"Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has revealed that one of the mobile phone numbers linked to those who attacked the Pathankot airbase had been traced to the Jaish-e-Mohammed group’s headquarters in Bahawalpur."

Thank you for accepting the evidence given by India and not saying the evidence is insufficient and hence action cannot be taken against the militants.

So jaish will be calling from their office landline. What a funny thing. People are stupid to plan like this?

@Divergence ... RAW involvement is only counter blame. So far no evidence was have received or shown to anyone accept verbal blame game. You are still welcome to show some evidence like India.

Positive development

@Amit Hooray! You are a man of peace and I fully agree that both our countries should work together to achieve peace and economic prosperity. I have no doubt that more and more people from both sides(and ultimately the masses) will demand closer ties and it is at that time that the politicians will show willingness to discuss our bilateral issues in a manner acceptable to both. They will also have to deal with the influences of powers who see their benefit in divide and rule.

@DelhiDude

@Tarannum S More evidence will be needed before our courts can give a guilty verdict. As a lawyer and they will tell you what I mean!

@A.JABBAR KERALA which evidence are you talking about?

@rehan

The perpetrators of samjhauta have been in jail for years..what else do you want?

In today's technology phone numbers can be easily manipulated and changed to whatever you like, give me access to a Telco network and I can show that, no big deal...

@Azam good one bro

@M. Ahmed Yes.. it can be done. But too bad JeM did not know how to do it

I would first and foremost connect the provided evidence from my own end to verify if it was genuine.

Okay!

Now what happens to the indian army officers involved in Samjhota Express killing of innocent Pakistanis?

Phone numbers were given by the indians, can be just a wrong list, we have to confirm if the call really happened and was dialed by the terrorist and not forged by RAW

@Amit We love you as well. Hope your government also stops supporting terrorism inside Pakistan via Afghanistan.

@M.Saeed Revenge is not the solution of peace, Now a days a few country in the world safe from this headache, if this terrorism situation going more 5 to 10 years all over the world people will be affected .

@Azam because its truth

India and the world hopes Pakistan is sincere in taking action against the terrorists.

@Sincere Everyone in Pakistan hopes so too!

@anil sahu

The resolution never brought a solution for the past 6 decades,I am sure hoping on the resolution to bring solution is foolhardy

@Alladitti - Pakistan has taken the right step but you still seem to have problem?

There is a head quarter of Jaish-e-Mohammad in Pakistan where its is banned by government???? !!!!!!

@ZAK It looks like the positive impact of the environment you are living in is finally beginning to change your way of thinking in a good way.

@DelhiDude Both the governments need to work together to eliminate terrorism from the region.

@timetostopthis - Yes, definitely both governments need to work together. Mistrust and policies of accusations and counteractions have been detrimental.

True need of the hour is for the two nations to stop playing dangerous games. Terrorists have to go.

Destroy all factions that may cause a war between us and India.. peace and progress is all we want...cannot stand these people! they disgust me to the core.

very sad.

@Amit feeling is mutual hope elements within India are also held accountable for messing up situation inside Pakistan at times. remember it takes 2 to tango..tali ek haat se nai bajti.. .. and inside your heart you know its true.. love from across the border!!

@Khalid Khan Samjhota is India's internal issue and the culprits are behind the bars.

Nice report from Dawn. Thank you!

Pathankot episode can make it or break it. If it ends well, it can inject some trust and confidence in the two countries' relations especially in fighting terrorism. But if it fails, it can create another dent in our ties with India. Pathankot may prove blessing in disguise or otherwise. For once, the two nuclear nations can feel the benefits of working together in defeating terrorism, their common enemy.Though delicate, but the path to peace can be covered with courage and commitment. The Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet in Washington next month. The resolution of Pathankot issue will provide them better ground to work for the resolution of other issues and bring peace and prosperity to their people.

@Harmony-1© You are absolutely right. The policy of mistrust between the two countries has only benefited the terrorists. Time to come together to work against a common enemy.

How this number was connected? Did Indians provide the number in an e-mail or phone which received the call, was provided? All intelligence agencies know that number. Let us make sure Indians are not setting up something.

Moreover, we should eliminate Jaish group anyway to get them out of extremism business.

@Shujaat Khan You totally missed the point, the phone traced to JEM headquarters. If your employer uses your phone for illegal activities it your company who is responsible not you. So it is the JEM head.

Calls traced to Jaish HQ. Pakistan team going to India for Investigation. They need to ascertain who made the call because the courts will need evidence to prove that the hand phone found really belong to the terrorists and further that these calls were really made by the terrorists. From day one India claiming that the terrorists made called to Jaish HQ. So Indian investigators also know the contact number of Jaish HQ. To make case against Jaish these questions need to be answered as defence lawyer will put up these questions.

So now what is Pakistan going to do about this? How about dismantling the terror group and killing and/or arresting the terrorists and their supporters. This is what needs to be done.

can mr sartaj aziz also inform us as to how the organization banned since 2002, is still operating their headquarters with impunity? that too in the province under government of the party mr aziz belongs to

seems that the only competence required for any high position in nawaz cabinet is 'incompetency'

@Rajesh rajesh, to clap we need to hands, y not india punishes those involved in samjhota express

One small step forward...... Can there be a mechanism to fast track the investigation & conclusion fairly.

@rehan In samjotha ex. Incident, justice has already been served.

Protective custody? A dangerous man needs 'restrictive custody' so that he does not cause any more terror attacks, not Protective custody.

This shows India always told truth...

What matters is the follow up action which will be closely scrutinised by India.

@Last Word ...it is Pakistani Investigation team going to India to scrutinise

A welcome step.

@Steve Boston

Steve you missed the point that I was being sarcastic.

@Khalid Khan They will never admit that they did it, so forget about expecting some cooperation in return from India.

@Gurjeet singh : Be your own judge !

How difficult is it to makeup some fraudulent phone records in India or Pakistan?

Dear Indian friends! Try to be honest and accept the ground reality that Jammu & Kashmir is disputed land and it is recognised by United Nations and UN resolutions are still active. India can delay but cannot deprive Kashmiris from Independence for centuries. If indians need peaceful & quality life, leave J&K.

what about charsada and APS phone calls?

Either JeM is really dumb to give the terrorists cell phone number registered to their headquarters or India is just throwing stuff on the wall hoping for something to stick.

Take your pick.

They got into Pathankoth and made a call to Pak and that too number registered to Jaish headoffice. Then they leave the phone with number on it with Indian security officials to press redial.. Even Indian movies have better stories than this immature one .

@M. Ahmed Using Today's technology it is also possible to check if the Caller ID was changed mid-way. Please grow up.

@Rational I work in security. In 2004, there was a device that can track all ongoing calls in a given area without even connected to telephone network but just sniffing airwaves and spectrum. It would record from number, to number and other technical details. This is called digital forensics. Technology is much more advanced now. The terrorists never knew that even broken phones can be examined and extracted.

@Anonymous ... Good point but how do you know that terrorist don't know about this technology?

@Arun-KS We don't pay attention to India anyway.

Pakistan did well to carry out an impartial investigation. It's quite obvious that Indians were expecting Pakistan to deny the allegation and hence providing a very strong reason for India to follow it's "fight terrorists with terrorists" policy. Speaking of which , I wonder whatever happened to the BKU terrorist attack for which the funding was traced to an Indian Consulate in Afghanistan.

Well played, Pakistan !

@atif Samjhota culprits are in jail for past many years and haven't seen the light of the day since.

@rehan the samjautha express culprits are in jail.not repeat not in protective custody and guests of the administration