by Elias Hubbard

Pakistani officials deny external pressure is behind the renewed push against militancy, but they have acknowledged a large number of suspects rounded up in recent days are linked to JeM. They have also confirmed that two brothers of Maulana Masood Azhar, who founded and runs JeM, are among the detainees.

In the wake of February 14 Pulwama terror attack, Pakistan began a crackdown on terror groups this week amid growing worldwide pressure.

The incident left more than 40 Indian security personnel dead.

The Pakistan People's Party (PPP), the country's main opposition, has taken a strong stance against the Imran Khan government for not raising the issue of Indian aggression at global forums like the United Nations, the Common Wealth and the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC).

He added that "the government is eliminating militant hideouts in the country by implementing the National Action Plan (NAP)". "We will not allow any militant group to function in our country now", he said.

One such attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir on February 14, claimed by the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) Pakistan-based group, killed 40 Indian paramilitary police and led to clashes between the nuclear-armed rivals as India retaliated. The United States and the United Nations have listed JeM, LeT, JuD and FIF as global terrorist groups. "India should be informed that Pakistan would give a befitting response to any future aggression".

Equating the 26 February airstrike by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to Israel's aggression against Arab states, PPP Senator Mian Raza Rabbani said India's strategic partners want to establish it as the "policeman" of the region.

"With Pakistan's Army most likely shaken by the Indian raid and unwilling to slide into protracted conflict, Prime Minister Imran Khan returned the pilot to India, in what was seen as a goodwill gesture, called for talks and promised an investigation into the bombing". India said one of its aircraft was shot down - Pakistan said two - and its pilot captured by Pakistan's military.

Analysts say the curriculum in most of the Islamic schools is confined to reading the Muslim holy book, the Quran, and other religion-based books, and very few of the schools teach modern science subjects.