Pakistan’s foreign office had yesterday said that it had “no information on the apprehensions, detentions or raids”.
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India on Wednesday deferred a decision on the talks apparently because of lack of confirmation on Azhar’s arrest.
Meanwhile, the MEA said India had noted the Pakistan government’s discussion on sending a Special Investigation Team comprising a six-man investigation committee including ISI and Military intelligence officials.
He said, “We are looking for action that is credible”. The January 2 attack on the base in Pathankot was followed by a raid on an Indian consulate in Afghanistan that has also been linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad, or the Army of Mohammad.
Though the two NSAs have been in touch on the phone, no meeting between them has taken place.
At the same time, the two neighbouring countries made it clear that the Indo-Pak peace process is on track and Islamabad and New Delhi would never allow terrorists to set the agenda.
Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar has been taken under “protective custody”, Dawn quoted Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah as saying.
Islamabad also said that it was not aware of the JeM chief having been “arrested”. “I don’t have anything else apart from the statement issued by the Prime Minister Office”.
“There is no truth about his arrest as there is no official statement on this”. India blames the group for the Pathankot incident.
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Following his release and subsequent return to Pakistan, Azhar split with Harkatul Mujahideen in 2000 and formed his own militant outfit Jaish-i-Mohammad. The offices of the organisation are also being traced and sealed. “The government welcomes the proposed visit of Pakistani probe team and Indian investigative agencies will provide it all possible help”, Vikas Swarup said. The Indian foreign ministry spokesperson expressed the hope that Pakistan will continue its investigations into the airbase attack and bring all perpetrators to justice.
