Indian investigators ready to confront JeM chief Masood Azhar with proof

NEW DELHI: Soon after reports poured in that Pakistan had detained several people, including JeM chief Masood Azhar and his bother Rauf Asghar who are alleged to be the masterminds of the Pathankot attack, Indian investigators on Wednesday said they are ready to travel to that country to examine them, armed with evidence collected during and after the January 2 strike.

"We have solid primary evidence to suggest Azhar planned the Pathankot attack.

If he is detained there, that's good. But until any strict action is taken against him, there is no need to be very happy about the detention because he was detained after the Parliament attack as well and then released," an officer, part of the probe, told TOI.

Masood Azhar was detained by Pakistani agencies and kept in "protective custody" in 2001 after the Parliament attack but was released within a year without any charge being pressed against him.

"We are ready to go to Pakistan to examine him and other JeM members if we are allowed," said the officer.

Reports also said several premises belonging to Jaish in Bahawalpur had been sealed by Pakistani agencies.A senior officer said, "Unless Pakistan charges him and puts him in jail, this whole preventive detention may be an eyewash like 2001."