Pakistan seals JeM seminary after raid over Pathankot

“I think certain positive measures have now been taken to ensure that we continue that momentum and the fact that the two Foreign Secretaries have agreed to reschedule through mutual agreement their meeting is a very positive indication”, he said.

Pakistan said on Wednesday it had arrested several members of the Jaish-e-Mohammad militant group, which is suspected of masterminding an attack this month on an Indian air base.

Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar who was taken into custody by authorities yesterday has hit out at Pakistan for his detention. “We also note that the government of Pakistan is considering sending a Special Investigation Team to investigate the Pathankot terror attack”, said Swarup. India on its part, did not call off the talks.

“The action against members of Jaish-e-Mohammed is a positive step”.

“Based on the initial investigations in Pakistan, and the information provided, several individuals belonging to JeM have been apprehended”.

India said on Thursday that Pakistan was moving in the right direction on the Pathankot airbase attack investigations and it will welcome the Pakistani probe team for more investigations.

Officials said on Friday police raided and sealed a religious seminary operated by JeM in Sialkot town near the Indian border.

An Indian security personnel stands guard on a building at the Indian Air Force (IAF) base at Pathankot in Punjab, January 5, 2016.

Earlier, the Pakistan government opted for not confirming or denying the reports on the “protective custody” of Maulana Masood Azhar. Soon after the Pak PMO issued the statement, spokesman of the Indian External Affairs Ministry Vikas Swarup stressed that New Delhi was yet to receive any official information about the detention of Azhar. “Prime Minister Modi’s top agenda is terrorism”, he added.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup told a media conference that India expected an action that was “credible, comprehensive and brings to justice all known perpetrators of the Pathankot terror attack”. Further investigations are underway, a statement from the prime minister office said. “We have been assured by the Indian government that it would take all the necessary steps for the security of the PIA offices in India”, the spokesman said.