Pakistan seals JeM seminary after raid over Pathankot

Islamabad, Jan 14: Pakistani authorities today raided and sealed a religious seminary operated by the banned Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Sialkot town near the Indian border, officials said.

The latest raid came after "several" JeM activists were arrested following leads provided by India over the alleged involvement of the outfit in the Pathankot air base attack. The raid was launched by Punjab's Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), one of its officials said.

"No arrest was made but some books, CDs and copies of national identity cards of some suspects were confiscated," he added. The madrassa was also sealed after a thorough search. Pakistan has promised India of tough action against anyone found guilty of involvement in the Pathankot attack.

In a pre-dawn terror strike on January 2, a group of heavily- armed Pakistani terrorists, suspected to be belonging to the JeM, attacked the Air Force base in Punjab and killed seven Indian security personnel. All the six attackers were killed by the security forces.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif yesterday chaired a high- level meeting which was told that offices of JeM were being traced and sealed. Also yesterday, Pakistani media reported that JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar, his brother and "several individuals" belonging to his dreaded outfit have been detained after India demanded action.

However, the reports of Azhar's detention turned out to be false. India and Pakistan today announced that they have agreed for a short deferment of the crucial Foreign Secretary-level talks.

PTI