Rajnath chairs internal security meet, Parrikar present

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday chaired a meeting on internal security which was attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval.

Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and Border Security Force Director General DK Pathak also arrived at the North Block for the meeting.

According to reports, the meeting will focus on the developments in the Pathankot attack.

Meanwhile, the Punjab province Law Minister, has clarified that Masood Azhar, the chief of the terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed who is being touted as the mastermind behind the Pathankot attack, has not been arrested yet.

He asserted that Azhar at the present was under 'protective custody' and will be arrested only after his involvement in the attack is proven.

Earlier, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that both India and Pakistan have agreed to reschedule the talks in the near future.

He also said that India welcomes "as a first step" the detention in Pakistan of leaders of the Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Swarup informed the media that the Government of Pakistan is considering sending a Special Investigation Team to investigate the Pathankot terror attack.

"We look forward to the visit of the Pakistani SIT and our investigative agencies will extend all necessary cooperation to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice," he added while asserting that New Delhi condemns terrorism in all its form and manifestation.