ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan has detained two close relatives of the leader of militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Masood Azhar, as part of a new crackdown against militant groups, the interior ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.

JeM last month carried out a suicide bombing in the disputed Kashmir region that killed at least 40 Indian paramilitary police, leading to a stand off between India and Pakistan.

“The interior minister just announced that 44 people linked to several militant groups have been taken into preventive custody. They include two close relatives of Masood Azhar, Mufti Abdur Rauf and Hammad Azhar,” said the spokesman, who did not wish to be identified by name.