Pathankot attack probe: Pakistan arrests 12 Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists

Pakistan has arrested 12 Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives for their alleged involvement in the Pathankot terror attack, following India’s demand that the Nawaz Sharif government take action against the terrorists, reports Daily Pakistan. The police has also traced and sealed the offices of the JeM in Bahwalnagar, Bahawalpur, Multan and Muzafargarh. The arrests were made after receiving information from India and the government is planning to send a special investigative team to Pathankot in order to probe the tragedy and gather more information they require to carry forward cooperation, reports CNN-IBN. [caption id=“attachment_2494476” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AP[/caption] Sources told NDTV that Pakistan conducted raids in Gujranwala and Jhelum regions, and questioned the family of one of the Jaish leaders. During the intervening night of 1 and 2 January, terrorists, who had sneaked into the country from Pakistan via the Indo-Pak border, attacked Indian Air Force base in Pathankot. They were killed during a counter-operation by Indian forces that lasted for around three days in which seven security personnel were killed. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has recently said there are indications that some of the materials used by the terrorists were made in Pakistan. Top government sources told PTI that National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is understood to have spoken to his Pakistani counterpart ex-General Nasser Khan Janjua and shared all relevant evidence, including voice data. However, Alok Bansal, director, Centre for Security and Strategy, India Foundation, had earlier observed , “Though a section has claimed so, it’s not clear whether JeM is involved in Pathankot attack or not. If it is involved it’ll be better for the Indian government to pressure Pakistan government, as JeM and Masood Azhar have distanced themselves from Pakistani establishment. Even Pakistan government may take a strong step against it, and apprehend a few JeM members.” With inputs from PTI