Maulana Masood Azhar detained; has Pakistan crackdown on JeM raised hope for India?

The detention of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar and some others members of his outfit has now raised hope for India that the Pathankot terror attack case probe will not go 26/11 way.

New Delhi: In what appears to be Pakistan's biggest crackdown on terror in the recent past, the detention of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar and some others members of his outfit has now raised hope for India that the Pathankot terror attack case probe will not go 26/11 way.

Pakistan has largely denied any involvement in terror related incidents that have taken place in  India in all these years but by detaining JeM chief and some of his close associates, Islamabad has this time dismissed apprehensions that it will never act against terror.

The development comes at a time when there are concerns that India-Pakistan Foreign Secretary level talks, originally scheduled to be held on January 15, will now be delayed.

Although there is no official confirmation in this regard as yet, India is keenly awaiting some tough response from Pakistan on the leads given by the Indian investigators on the Pathankot terror attack to it before engaging with Islamabad in fresh peace talks.  .

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has reportedly shared initial evidence of Pakistan's role in the Pathankot terror attack with Islamabad. Following the development, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had assured that Islamabad is swiftly carrying out investigations in a transparent manner and will bring the perpetrators to task.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had earlier said that the foreign secretary talks would be held on January 15.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar is scheduled to travel to Islamabad on January 15 to hold discussions with his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry to chalk out a roadmap to carry forward the engagement under the newly-announced "Bilateral Comprehensive Dialogue".

However, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval was quoted as having said that talks can be held only after Pakistan takes action against terror groups.

The JeM chief's arrest has indeed raise hope for India but it will be interesting to see will Pakistan actually 'walk the talk' on nailing terror operating from its soil.