Maulana Masood arrested or detained: Pakistan's technical trick

We are still in business is what the Jaish-e-Mohammad had to say in a statement. The statement was aimed at refuting news reports which originated from Pakistan that their chief, Maulana Masood Azhar had been arrested. Has Pakistan arrested Azhar? They have not arrested but detained him.

There is a primary difference between detaining a person and arresting him. When an arrest has been made there has to be a filing of a case with charges.

In the case of a detention, it could be done without charges. Moreover detentions are done for a variety of reasons ranging from preventive to protective.

A technicality that Pakistan rides on

The news relating to Maulana Masood's arrest is very similar what we got to witness with Hafiz Saeed after the Mumbai 26/11 attack. Following an attack of such a magnitude, there is pressure on Pakistan from various quarters to take action against the masterminds of the attack.

If one were to see the manner in which Pakistan acts in such situations, it becomes clear that they take the likes of Saeed or Azhar into protective custody.

Pakistan's minister Rana Sanaulla even confirmed that Azhar had been taken into protective custody. Protective custody could mean anything.

It could either be to protect him from a drone hit or an attempt to prevent him from planning another attack. Indian officials say that this is always a technicality that Pakistan relies on from time to time.

On the other hand, the Jaish-e-Mohammad has come out in the open to deny the arrest of Azhar. They are right, Azhar has not been arrested, but detained.

In a statement, the JeM has said that what difference would it make anyway if an arrest is carried out. The mujahideens will be more enthusiastic to work for the cause of Jihad, a statement in Urdu by the JeM read.