NIA issues red corner notice against JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar

New Delhi: The National Investigative Agency (NIA) on Monday issued a red corner notice against Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar and three others for conspiring to carry out terror strike on the strategic Indian Air Force base in Pathankot.

Earlier, NIA secured a non-bailable arrest warrants against the four JeM terrorists including Azhar.

Apart from Masood, the warrant has also been issued against his brother Asad Rauf, Kashif Jaan and Shahid Latif in connection with the terror attack at the Pathankot airbase. 

The court's decision came following the strong evidences presented by the NIA before the court which included entire details about the terrorists, their parents, personal details and addresses, telephonic conversations between the terrorists and the JeM handlers. 

An Interpol Red Corner notice is already pending against Azhar for being allegedly involved in the conspiracy behind attacks on Parliament and Jammu and Kashmir state Assembly.

Similarly an Interpol Red Corner Notice is pending against Rauf in connection with the IC-814 hijacking case of 1999.

India had built a strong case for proscribing Azhar as terrorist at the UN but the move was vetoed by China. Last week, China stopped UN sanctions committee from designating Azhar as terrorist, maintaining that the case "did not meet the requirements" of the Security Council.

This is not the first time China has blocked India's bid to get Pakistan-based militant groups and leaders proscribed by the UN.

The UN had banned the JeM in 2001 but India's efforts for slapping sanctions on Azhar after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack also did not fructify as China, that has veto powers, did not allow it apparently at the behest of Pakistan again.