Tightening its claws around the neck of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar and his brother Abdul Rauf, the International Police Association (Interpol) on Tuesday issued a Red Corner notice against both of them. AIR correspondent quoting official sources reports that New Delhi is ascertaining Islamabad’s response and details of the visit will be worked out subsequently.
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The peace process between India and Pakistan is stalled with India looking for some “visible progress” on the Pathankot terror probe.
New Delhi: The NIA has sent a request for visiting Pakistan to carry forward its investigation into the Pathankot terror attack.
The action follows NIA’s “open-ended” nonbailable warrant against Azhar and Rauf for allegedly plotting a terror strike on Pathankot airbase in January. However, soon after the Pakistani team’s visit, high commissioner Abdul Basit had dismissed the NIA’s assertion that the investigators were allowed into India as a part of a “reciprocal” agreement.
The NIA had also moved in for issuance of RCN against two others, Kashif Jaan and Shahid Latif, in this case alleged to be the handlers of the JeM terrorists who had infiltrated India on the intervening night of December 30-31. In addition the NIA had also provided the Interpol with the Internet Protocol address of the site which uploaded a video of Abdul Rauf claiming responsibility for Pathankot attack.
During a meeting with Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry on April 26, Jaishankar had highlighted the need to review progress in Pathankot investigation, for which an NIA Team could visit Pakistan.
The special NIA court in Punjab had recently issued arrests warrants against the JeM chief and his younger brother.
IRCNs are already pending against Azhar for his alleged involvement in the conspiracy behind attacks on the Indian Parliament and Jammu & Kashmir State Assembly. Seven security personnel were killed during the 80-hour long gunbattle.
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The group is still headed by Maulana Masood Azhar, who was released by the Indian government following the hijack of IC-814 aircraft in 1999.
