Interpol has issued two red corner notices against Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar and his brother Abdul Rauf, both suspected to have played a lead role in the Pathankot airbase attack. The question is how does this help India? A red corner notice is an alert to all countries to arrest and deport the concerned persons. Cognisance of the notice is taken by most countries, except Pakistan, which effectively means India has nothing to gain. Dawood Ibrahim, for instance, is a wanted man but is safely ensconced in a fortress in Pakistan, protected by the government under layers of security. Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi, the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks is also safe in Pakistan. In such a scenario red corner alerts have little meaning because Islamabad, thanks to international support, does not feel pressurised to deport them. Two months back China blocked a move by India at the UN to ban the JeM chief on flimsy grounds that the facts and procedure did not allow such a ban. As long as some nations continue to use terrorists as an extension of their foreign policy, red corner alerts will be rendered toothless. The only effect of the notice is that it will prevent the two from travelling freely abroad, because of the chance of being arrested and deported to India. Some consolation!
