Amid escalating tension between India and Pakistan following the Pulwama attack in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed the lives of over 40 CRPF soldiers, it has been reported by Pakistan’s Interior Ministry that authorities have arrested at least 12 suspects involved in the Pulwama terror attack, including a couple of prominent members of the group.

The ministry reportedly arrested 44 suspects from across several groups that have been terrorizing Pakistan, among which a dozen suspects belong to the Jaish-e-Mohammed group, whose member launched a suicide bombing in Pulwama that led to the deaths of the 40 CRPF personnel. Among those arrested were Mufti Abdul Rauf and Hamad Azhar, the brother and son, respectively, of Jaish leader Masood Azhar.

Pakistan Interior Secretary Azam Suleman Khan has claimed that further action will be taken against the JeM terrorists if New Delhi provided evidence of the group’s involvement in the attack to Islamabad. “So far India has not given evidence. We received only some names in connection with the suicide attack. We will not take these steps under pressure from anyone. This is better for us, for Pakistan’s own future. There will be no compromise, no matter who is responsible,” he said at a recent news conference.

Hostility between the two countries increased last week when India launched a retaliatory air-strike in Balakot, claiming its air force hit the biggest terrorist training camp and killed a very large number of militants. However, some of that tension eased when Pakistan’s PM Imran Khan returned the captured Wing Commander Abhinandan to India as a peace gesture.