Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi admits Masood Azhar is in Pakistan
Islamabad, March 1
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has admitted that Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar is in Pakistan and is “unwell”, but said the government can act against him only if India presents “solid” and “inalienable” evidence that can stand in a court of law.
Qureshi’s remarks came amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan after the February 14 terror attack by Pakistan-based JeM in Pulwama that left 40 CRPF personnel dead.
India has handed over a dossier to Pakistan with “specific details of the JeM complicity in the Pulwama terror attack and the presence of JeM terror camps and its leadership in Pakistan”.
India also expressed regret at the denial by Pakistan’s political and military leadership at the presence of terrorist infrastructure in territories under its control.
“He is in Pakistan, according to my information. He is unwell to the extent that he can’t leave his house,” Qureshi said when asked about Azhar.
India has been repeatedly trying to list him as a “global terrorist” by the UN. However, China, an ally of Pakistan, has blocked India’s efforts by using veto.
Qureshi added that the release of IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was a “peace gesture” and must be seen as Pakistan’s “willingness to de-escalate”. — PTI
Pak House: India’s op is ‘aggression’
- Pak Parliament joint session on Friday passed a resolution strongly condemning as “aggression” India's counter-terrorism operation in the country
- The resolution was moved by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who earlier announced that he was skipping the meeting of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation over the invitation to Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj
- The House rejected as “self-serving, fictitious” India's claims of having destroyed a terrorist facility and causing heavy casualties
