Pakistan announces ‘several’ arrests over attack in India

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan had arrested “several individuals belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammad”, adding that progress was being made in the investigation. Further investigation is underway in this regard, the statement said.

While the arrest of several individuals was announced in a press release from the Prime Minister ” s Office, there was no official word on Azhar ” s detention.

The meeting, which took place at the PM’s residence, was attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and other senior officials.

With just 24 hours to go for the planned talks between the foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India, there is no official word as yet whether the key meeting will be held on January 15 as scheduled.

The Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief, known for his close ties with Pakistani intelligence agencies, was taken to an undisclosed destination and was being questioned, The News said.

The statement said the government had made “considerable progress” in investigating the attack, and it wanted to send a team of special investigators to the Pathankot air base.

“Explaining Jaish’s stand vis a vis the government in Islamabad, “Our thinking regarding Pakistan has always been based on wishing it well and peace, I am sorry that the rulers here (in Pakistan) have no respect for that”.

Pakistan has detained several militants belonging to JeM, including Masood Azhar, and sealed its offices, reported Pakistan media on Wednesday.

Foreign office (FO) spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah on Thursday has said that Pakistan is in contact with India to determine the date of Foreign Secretary level talks. He operates in Pakistan-held Kashmir where he says jihad is not officially banned. After the Pathankot attack, the JeM uploaded an audio clip on a website making startling disclosures about how the Pathankot airbase was raided – and how “Indian tanks, military cars and helicopters” were fired at.

The Pathankot assault, which dragged on for days before all the attackers were killed, has prompted fierce domestic criticism of India’s security agenciesand the national security adviser, Ajit Doval.

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.

Years ago, Pakistan refused to hand over Azhar to India after he was named as the prime suspect in the 2001 attack on Parliament. “It came at the wrong time for all sides – the Indian government, the Pakistan government and the Pakistan army”.