In New Delhi, Indian foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup had said that there was no official communication from the Pakistani side on the detentions.
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Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said Friday’s FS-level talks, for which Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar was to travel, will not take place as planned.
Sources said that since Pakistan has announced that several individuals belonging to JeM have been apprehended, it should also disclose under which law it has started the probe or detained the suspects.
The move comes even after what appears to be a familiar flip-flop on the arrest of the Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar.
The Pakistani authorities are carrying out the investigation into the Pathankot attack as per information provided by India.
While some worldwide quarters claimed that the U.S. had pressurized Pakistan for arresting Azhar, it is yet to be seen whether Pakistan takes any credible and honest action against the Pathankot attack mastermind.
“Foreign Secretary [S. Jaishankar] spoke to his Pakistani counterpart today [Thursday]”. “Pakistan is taking steps in the right direction and we wholeheartedly welcome it”, he said.
Islamabad also reportedly sealed off the offices of JeM outfit after India demanded stern action against the terror outfit and linked it to fate of foreign secretary-level talks, which are likely to be held on Friday. “The government welcomes the proposed visit of Pakistani probe team and Indian investigative agencies will provide it all possible help”, Vikas Swarup said. The secretaries talks on comprehensive dialogue. He said, “I am not aware of any such arrest. We hope Pakistan will continue investigation and bring all perpetrators to justice” Swarup said.
He also said Azhar could be formally arrested if his involvement in the Pathankot attack, which left seven Indian security personnel and six attackers dead, was proved.
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Pakistan has rejected some evidence furnished by India including phone numbers called by the terrorists from Pathankot.
