Pakistan arrests key suspects in Kashmir attack, including Masood Azhar's brother
44 people linked to several militant groups have been taken into preventive custody
Islamabad: Pakistan's Interior Ministry says authorities have arrested dozens of suspects, including the brother of the leader of the outlawed Jaish-e-Mohammad group that India has blamed for the February 14 suicide bombing in Indian Kashmir that killed 40 troops.
That bombing last month triggered a dangerous escalation that last week pushed Pakistan and India close to an all-out war over Kashmir.
In Tuesday's statement, the ministry says 44 suspects were arrested, including prominent members of the outlawed militant group. Among those arrested was Mufti Abdul Rauf, the brother of the group's leader, Masood Azhar.
The ministry says the brother was among suspects listed in a file on the February bombing that India gave to Pakistan over the weekend. Kashmir is split between Pakistan and India and is claimed by both in its entirety.