India slams Pak's 'duplicity' over terrorism after reports of JeM chief Masood Azhar's public appearance

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal pointed to Islamabad’s previous claims that Azhar had fled to Afghanistan. ‘There has been denial that he is not there in Pakistan. If the reports (of his location) are correct then it exposes the duplicity of Pakistan,’ he said

In this January 22, 2000 photo, Masood Azhar, founder of a major Islamic militant group, Jaish-e-Mohammad arrives in Karachi, Pakistan. File image/PTI

India on Friday (December 6) demanded strong action from Pakistan against Masood Azhar, the leader of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militant group, following reports that he recently delivered a speech at a public gathering in Bahawalpur, Pakistan.

Azhar, a UN-designated global terrorist, is accused of masterminding several high-profile attacks in India, including the 2019 Pulwama bombing that killed 40 paramilitary personnel.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal criticised Pakistan for its “duplicity” during a weekly media briefing.

He pointed out Islamabad’s previous assertions that Azhar had fled to Afghanistan. “There has been denial that he is not there in Pakistan. If the reports (of his location) are correct then it exposes the duplicity of Pakistan,” he said.

“He is a UN-designated terrorist. We demand that strong action be taken against him, that he is brought to justice,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly media briefing.

Azhar reportedly used his speech to criticise leaders he described as “fearful rulers” who had led to defeats in Kashmir, Palestine, and other regions.

JeM, the group led by Azhar, has been implicated in numerous cross-border attacks, including the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2016 Pathankot airbase assault. India has repeatedly pressed Pakistan to act against Azhar, but Islamabad has denied his presence in the country.

In 1999, India released Azhar as part of a hostage exchange to resolve the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814. Since then, he has remained a central figure in anti-India militant activities.

The MEA reiterated its stance that Pakistan must fulfill its obligations to act against Azhar and other terror elements operating on its soil.

Azhar was designated a global terrorist by the UN Security Council in 2019, a designation that mandates U.N. member states to freeze his assets, impose a travel ban, and restrict arms sales to him.