In a statement, the PMO also confirmed the arrests of several members of the Jaish-i-Mohammad militant group, which India suspects of involvement in what was almost week-long siege of the Pathankot Indian air base earlier this month. It also blamed his brother Rauf and five others for carrying out the attack that left all six terrorists and seven Indian soldiers dead on January 2.
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As per TV reports, Masood has been arrested by Pakistani authorities for questioning in connection with the Pathankot terror attack case. The police has also traced and sealed the offices of the JeM in Bahwalnagar, Bahawalpur, Multan and Muzafargarh.
Meanwhile, Pakistan PMO confirmed that the country was willing to send a special investigation team to India after consultations with New Delhi. Moreover, offices of banned out have been sealed.
The statement was released after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired a high-level civil-military meeting in Islamabad to discuss the regional security situation and the investigation into the Pathankot airbase terrorist attack.
The cross-border terror attack in Pathankot created major upheavals in South Block, with the government being unable to take a concrete decision.
Pakistan has also promised to remain engaged with India on the issue in line with its resolve to counter and completely eliminate terrorism from the region.
Union home minister Rajnath Singh today said India had no reason to “distrust” Pakistan so early into the Pathankot probe, amid indications that India was willing to go ahead with the foreign secretary talks.
Adviser to the Pakistan PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said the FS-level talks are “intact” as “Pakistan is investigating the Pathankot incident”.
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The process of resumption of talks was set in motion after a meeting between Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan in Paris on November 30 on the sidelines of Climate Change Conference. He said the government should tell the nation what “actionable proofs and evidences” it has given to Pakistan and whether the Government of Pakistan has acted on these evidences and to what extent.
