 "Pak not an 'existential threat' to India: Vikram Sood")
Asserting that Pakistan is not an existential threat to India, former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Vikram Sood on Saturday advised New Delhi to understand the mind of the ruling class in Islamabad and give the neighbouring nation a befitting reply in the wake of the recent terror strike in Pathankot.
"We have not understood the mind of the Pakistani ruling class. They are not interested in solving Kashmir; they are only interested in continuing the current conflict. There is a person (Pakistan) sitting inside my drawing room and pelting stones at me and I say I want to talk. Talks will not solve anything," Sood said on the sidelines of the launch of a book 'Conflict Communication - Chronicles of a Communicator' written by former Principal Information Officer (PIO) I Ramamohan Rao.
"Pakistan is not an existential threat to us, they cannot destroy us. We must metaphorically raise our walls high enough to keep them away. We need to give a befitting reply. I am not asking for war but we should do something big enough for them to suffer," he added.
However, the former RAW chief, downplayed a poser on whether the Pathankot attack was an intellectual failure instead of an intelligence failure.
"I don't know what intelligence was given. I know just as much as any other person sitting here. But if there was an intelligence we probably didn't know where exactly they are going to go. Intelligence is as good as its consumer. If intelligence is not acted upon then it is 'no intelligence'. If we knew that there is going to be an attack then why weren't we prepared," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reviewed the security at the Pathankot Air Force station and got first hand assessment of the post attack situation.
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According to reports, Prime Minister Modi has been appraised about the proof regarding Pakistani origin of the attackers.
The attack in Pathankot came just a week after the Prime Minister made an unscheduled visit to Pakistan and met his counterpart Nawaz Sharif.
Meanwhile, the NIA has also made initial details of probe into the Pathankot attack public.
The NIA's forensic experts have taken DNA samples, weaponry, accessories and other important evidences from the site of attack.
India has put the ball in Pakistan's court over the Foreign Secretary-level talks scheduled later this month in Islamabad, saying it would move ahead in this regard only after the neighbouring nation delivers 'prompt and decisive action' on the evidence given.