Pakistan's Pathankot statement conveys considerable progress: MEA

MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup viewed the crackdown on Jaish-e-Mohammad JeM terrorist group as an important and positive first step

India on Thursday welcomed the steps taken by Pakistan to investigate the antecedents of the terror strike in Pathankot allegedly by the the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and pledged to extend all help to the former's special investigation team when it arrives in India.

"We welcome the statement issued by the Government of Pakistan yesterday on the investigation into the Pathankot terror attack. The statement conveys that considerable progress has been made in the investigations being carried out against terrorist elements linked to the Pathankot incident," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

He also said that India viewed the crackdown on the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist group as an important and positive first step.

Lauding the Pakistan Government for action taken against JeM, Swarup said India will extend all necessary cooperation to bring the perpetrators of this attack to justice.

He reiterated that India does not have any information about the release of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar.

Earlier, the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that they have no information about the arrest of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar in connection with the recent Pathankot terror attack.

"I am not aware of such arrest," said MOFA spokesperson Khalilullah Qazi.

He further said Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

"Terrorism is a common threat and it is the collective responsibility of all countries to fight against it," Qazi added.

Reports earlier suggested that Pakistan's law enforcement agencies had yesterday arrested 12 suspects of the banned Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), including its chief Masood Azhar, over links with the attack on Indian Air Force base in Pathankot.

The reports also suggested that a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was informed on Wednesday that offices of JeM that allegedly conducted Pathankot attack were secretly operating in four cities of Punjab.

The offices had reportedly been sealed in Bahwalnagar, Bahawalpur, Multan and Muzafargarh cities and the suspected members of the group were also held, top officials briefed Sharif.