Pakistan Claims Arrest of Militants Behind Indian Airbase Attack

Earlier, a statement from the office of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said, “Several individuals belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed, have been apprehended”.

Amid report that Pakistan has rejected the evidence provided by India related to Pathankot terror attack, defence expert P.K Sehgal believes that India should not provide any more evidences to Islamabad and should postpone the Foreign Secretary-level talks.

Earlier, three other JeM terrorrists were reportedly arrested by Pakistani authorities, but there was no official confirmation of any direct link to the Pathankot attacks. The police has also traced and sealed the offices of the JeM in Bahwalnagar, Bahawalpur, Multan and Muzafargarh.

US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Sarah Sewall condemned the recent attack on Indian Air Force base in Pathankot and asserted that both Washington and New Delhi have been brought together by shared trauma of terrorism.

In Islamabad, the decision to form the JIT, comprising officials from the Intelligence Bureau, Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence, was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Sharif recently, Pakistani newspaper The Express Tribune said.

Defence installations located along the India-Pakistan border continue to be put on high alert as they are the prime targets of Pakistan-based terrorist organisations following the attack on Pathankot Air Base. However, India has indicated that is no longer possible unless Pakistan demonstrates “firm and immediate action against those responsible for the air base attack”, based on specific and actionable information provided by India. Further investigations are underway, ” it added. “Nawaz (Sharif) has assured his Indian counterpart (Narendra Modi) that Pakistan will investigate the matter and make the results public”, the report said.

India has called on Islamabad to act on the information if the FS-level talks are to take place on Friday.

No amount of probe by Pakistan would be satisfactory if the two brothers who run the Jaish-e-Mohammad roam around freely.

The participants also agreed to remain in contact with India on Pathankot incident.