India to announce decision on Foreign Secretary talks with Pakistan today
The government deferred its decision on Wednesday night after the detention of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar was reported in the Pakistani media. The news, however, was not officially confirmed.
According to Pakistai media reports, Masood Azhar, accused of masterminding the January 2 terror attack on the Pathankot air base, and his close relatives, were taken into "protective custody" two days ago.
The foreign ministry is likely to make an announcement after National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, on his return from Paris on Thursday, speaks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and briefs him on Pakistan.
India has said that unless Pakistan takes strong action against those responsible for the Pathankot attack, the Foreign Secretary-level talks could not go ahead at this time.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif set up a committee of his top intelligence, army and government officers to investigate India's allegations after PM Modi spoke to him last week.
Sharif's office said in a statement on Wednesday that some members of Jaish-e-Mohammed had been detained in connection with the Pathankot attack.
The statement said the government had made "considerable progress" in investigating the attack, and it wanted to send a team of special investigators to the Pathankot air base.
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