No proof of Masood Azhar’s involvement: Pak

Despite India giving strong evidences such as the Pakistani sim card from which the calls were made, shoe marks which showed boots manufactured in a Pakistan shoe company and the use of Army fatigues which is one of the attributes of the JeM style of attacking, Pakistan has blatantly said that there is no proof to nail Masood Azhar.

However, with Pakistan government-constituted SIT’s clean chit to terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed and its chief Maulana Masood Azhar in the Pathankot attack case, Islamabad’s rhetoric on terror appears to be mere eye-wash and nothing more, triggering concerns if it is trying to shift India’s focus on terrorism?

Six suspected Islamist militants attacked the airbase in Pathankot on 2 January, leading to a three-day-long standoff that led to the death of seven Indian security personnel.

The Express Tribune has learnt from official sources that Pakisatni authorities had communicated to New Delhi that their team had found no substantial evidence that could nail Masood Azhar in the Pathankot case.

A spokesman for India’s foreign ministry declined to comment on reports of the special investigation team’s findings.

The investigation team was formed by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after India claimed to have found of JeM while intercepting the mobile communication between the attackers and their alleged handlers in Pakistan by the its spy agencies. Pakistani authorities also launched a crackdown in Punjab against the JeM, its headquarters were sealed and dozens of activists detained. It is also expected to visit India to study the evidence the Indians have. The SIT had sought further information from India which it refused to share.

According to reports, the latest development from Pakistans side is bound to delay a dialogue between the two neighbouring states.

The team, however did not rule out involvement of some ranking operatives of the JeM, the statement said.