Interpol issues red corner notice against Masood Azhar, brother

NEW DELHI: The Interpol on Tuesday issued Red Corner Notices against the head of the Jaish-e-Muhammad, Maulana Masood Azhar, and his brother Abdul Rauf in the Pathankot Airbase attack case.

These notices were issued at the request of India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA). The attack on the Indian Airbase, Pathankot, continued for three days in which four attackers and seven Indian security personnel were killed.

Inspector General of the NIA SK Singh told BBC that action to issue red corner notices for two other accused, Shahid Latif and Kashif Jan, was also underway. He said that both these persons also belonged to the Jaish-e-Muhammad and were working as ‘handlers’ for the attackers.

According to the Indian media, the NIA has reportedly made a formal request to Islamabad seeking permission to visit Pakistan to further investigate the attack on the Indian Air Force base in Punjab’s Pathankot city.

The NIA has handed over the written request to India’s Ministry of External Affairs that would forward it to Islamabad.

According to the sources, the NIA’s letter contains a proposal to record the statements of Azhar, Rauf, Shahid Latif and Kashif Jan.

According to Interior Ministry sources, Maulana Masood Azhar is a Pakistani citizen and Interpol is bound to take up any issue regarding him with Pakistan before issuing notices to him.