Pakistan Will Arrest Azhar If India Provides Proof, Says Bilawal Bhutto

In a startling revelation, former Pakistan Foreign Minister and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has claimed that Pakistan does not know the whereabouts of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar. Azhar, a UN-designated global terrorist and one of India's most-wanted fugitives, has been linked to several high-profile terror attacks on Indian soil.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Bhutto said Pakistan would be "more than happy" to arrest Azhar if India could provide credible evidence proving his presence on Pakistani soil. He also suggested that Azhar may be in Afghanistan, citing his involvement in the Afghan jihad and the inability of NATO to capture him in the region during its long deployment.

Azhar's name is tied to some of the most devastating attacks in recent Indian history, including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the 2016 Pathankot airbase assault, and the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing. He was declared a global terrorist by the United Nations in 2019. Notably, his release in 1999 was secured after the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814, which was diverted to Kandahar.

India has persistently demanded Azhar's extradition, along with that of Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed. However, Islamabad has routinely denied both men's presence or freedom, even as global pressure mounts.

In the interview, Bhutto also dismissed reports that Hafiz Saeed is free. "It's factually not correct that Hafiz Saeed is a free man. He is in the custody of the Pakistani state," he said.

On Azhar, Bhutto added, "We have been unable to arrest or locate him. Given his prior links to the Afghan jihad, it is possible he's in Afghanistan." He also pointed to the limitations Pakistan faces in pursuing fugitives across borders. "If he is in Afghanistan, then understand-the West has handed the country over to a group they once called terrorists. NATO couldn't find everyone. How can Pakistan succeed where NATO failed?" he asked.

Bhutto emphasized that Pakistan would be open to cooperation if India provided actionable intelligence. "When you have counterterrorism cooperation with any country, both sides share lists of groups and individuals of concern. That's how we've managed to prevent attacks in places like London, New York, and even within Pakistan," he explained.

His comments come amid heightened tensions following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which triggered India's retaliatory Operation Sindoor. The operation included a series of cross-border airstrikes targeting terror infrastructure inside Pakistan, including Lashkar-e-Taiba's Muridke base and Jaish-e-Mohammed's headquarters in Bahawalpur.

Following the strikes, Masood Azhar claimed that ten of his family members and four of his close aides were killed in the Indian assault.

Bhutto's statement has once again turned the spotlight on Pakistan's murky record on terrorism and raised fresh questions about its willingness-and ability-to rein in internationally designated terrorists operating from its soil.