India Calls Out Pakistan Over Masood Azhar’s Public Appearance
India has strongly condemned Pakistan following reports of a public speech by Masood Azhar, the UN-designated global terrorist and chief of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urged Pakistan to take decisive action against Azhar, highlighting the nation’s failure to curb terrorist activities.
Pakistan’s Alleged Duplicity Exposed
Speaking on the matter, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “We demand that strong action be taken against him, and he should be brought to justice. There has been denial that he is not there in Pakistan. If the reports are correct, then it exposes the duplicity of Pakistan.”
Azhar, listed as an international terrorist by the United Nations Security Council in May 2019, has been accused of orchestrating multiple cross-border terror attacks in India. India labeled him a terrorist in September 2019 under its domestic laws.
Azhar’s Terror Links and History
Azhar is allegedly responsible for planning and executing several high-profile terrorist incidents, including:
- The 2001 Parliament attack in New Delhi.
- The 2019 Pulwama terror attack, which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel.
- The 2001 attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly complex that killed 38 people.
- The 2016 Pathankot airbase attack and numerous strikes on BSF camps across Jammu and Kashmir.
Arrested in 1994 by Indian authorities, Azhar was released during the 1999 IC-814 hijacking in exchange for hostages. After his release, he founded Jaish-e-Mohammed, which has been linked to global terror networks like Al-Qaida and the Taliban.
India’s Demand for Justice
India has consistently accused Pakistan of harboring and supporting terrorists like Azhar while denying their presence on its soil. The recent reports of Azhar delivering a public address in Bahawalpur have reignited concerns over Pakistan’s commitment to combating terrorism.
India has reiterated its demand for international accountability and action against Masood Azhar, emphasizing the need for Pakistan to align with global efforts to dismantle terrorist networks.
