Pathankot Attack: A price India paid for 'a Goodwill Gesture' in 2010

New Delhi, May 17:Yes, that's true. India extended a hand of friendship and it was rejected immideately. However, Pakistan is not to be blamed alone, when our choices were bad. Let's face it!

The man behind the Pathankot attacks was released by UPA 2 government as a 'Goodwill Gesture' to Pakistan. Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) operative Shahid Latif was freed in 2010 to mend ties with Pakistan, which was going through a rough patch of Indo-Pak relations. Convicted of terror charges, Latif was in India till May 28, 2010, until he was freed along with 25 other terrorists who were languishing in various jails.

Incidentally, after being freed, Latif went back to join the JeM and was working as the chief handler of all the terrorists in India.

Latif is very close to JeM chief Masood Azhar.

Azhar was forced to be released during the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814 in 1999. Although Latif's freedom was also demanded, which was rejected by the Vajpayee government.

[Read: Timeline of Pathankot terror attack]

Currently, he is wanted in India for the four suicide attackers who stormed the airbase on January 2. Latif is said to have arranged for the food, clothing, medicines and injections.

12 people, including NSG commando Lt. Col. Niranjan Kumar were killed in the attack.

OneIndia News