Pakistan Clueless on Masood Azhar’s Location, He Might Be in Afghanistan: Bilawal Bhutto

Bilawal Bhutto: Pakistan Unaware of Masood Azhar’s Location, Believes He May Be in Afghanistan.

Former Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has stated that Islamabad has no confirmed information about the whereabouts of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, one of India’s most-wanted terrorists. Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, Bhutto said Pakistan would be willing to take action if New Delhi provides credible evidence that Azhar is on Pakistani soil.

“If and when the Indian government shares information that he is on Pakistani soil, we would be more than happy to arrest him,” Bhutto said, implying that India has yet to present such proof.

Masood Azhar is accused of orchestrating several major terrorist attacks in India, including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the 2016 Pathankot airbase assault, and the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing. He was designated a global terrorist by the United Nations in 2019. Azhar was released from Indian custody in 1999 as part of a prisoner exchange during the Kandahar hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814.

Despite multiple extradition requests by India, Pakistan has consistently denied hosting Azhar or other wanted terrorists, including Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, who has also been sanctioned internationally.

‘Hafiz Saeed Is Not Free, Masood Azhar Likely in Afghanistan’
Responding to a New York Times report suggesting Hafiz Saeed is free, Bhutto said, “That’s factually incorrect. He is in the custody of the Pakistani state.” Regarding Masood Azhar, Bhutto added, “We have not been able to arrest or locate him. Given his history with the Afghan jihad, we believe he may be in Afghanistan.”

His comments come amid international pressure on Pakistan to act decisively against terror groups operating within and around its borders.