Fresh Interpol notice against Masood Azhar

Maulana Masood Azhar, Jaish-e-Mohammad chief. *********************** RETRANSMITTION WITH CORRECT PHOTO TAKEN DATE JAN.22, 2000 (NOT DEC.31, 2000) This Jan.22, 2000 File photo shows Maulana Masood Azhar, founder of a major Islamic militant group, Jaish-e-Mohammad whose militants are fighting against Indian troops in Indian-held Kashmir, was arrested by Pakistan's authorites on Monday in Punjab province. Pakistan police have arrested 30 militants at the offices of Jaish-e-Mohammed, or Army of Mohammed, an anti-India guerrilla group, witness and police said Wednesday, Dec.26, 2001. Azhar who was released by Indian authorities on Dec. 31, 1999 in exchange of 155 passengers of the Indian hijacked aircraft at Kandahar airport in Afghanistan, is on the American list of terrorists. (AP Photo/Athar Hussain)

Interpol has issued a fresh Red Corner Notice against Maulana Masood Azhar, chief of the banned Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and his brother Abdul Rauf.

The fresh notice was issued after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) secured an “open-ended” non-bailable warrant against the duo for conspiring to carry out a terror strike on the strategic IAF base in Pathankot on January 2.

The NIA has also moved for a Red Corner Notice against two others, Kashif Jaan and Shahid Latif, believed to be the handlers of the JeM terrorists who infiltrated into India on the intervening night of December 30-31 to carry out the attack.

Awaiting Pak. response

India was awaiting Pakistan’s response to its proposal to allow a visit by an NIA team to review the progress in Pathankot investigations. Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar had raised the issue with his Pakistani counterpart here three weeks ago. Mr. Jaishankar had highlighted the need to review the progress in the Pathankot probe during a meeting with Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry on April 26. “We are ascertaining Pakistan’s response. Details will be worked out subsequently,” a government source said.