Masood Azhar
Admitting that Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar is in Pakistan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday said that he was "very unwell." Qureshi's statement comes as France, the UK and the US have launched a fresh bid at the UN to list Masood Azhar as a global terrorist even as China remained non-committal on backing the move.
“He (Masood Azhar) is in Pakistan. According to my information, he is very unwell. He’s unwell to the extent that he cannot leave his house because he is really unwell. So, that’s the information I have”, Qureshi told CNN in an interview.
Qureshi further said that Pakistan will take action against the Jaish chief if India provides “solid, inalienable evidence”.
“If they give us evidence which is acceptable to the courts of Pakistan… after all we will have to justify they will go to the court. If they have solid, inalienable evidence, share it with us so that we can convince the independent judiciary of Pakistan,” he said.
Speaking on Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's announcement on Thursday of releasing Indian Air Force Pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan as a peace gesture, Qureshi said, “This was a goodwill gesture and we feel this should be an expression of Pakistan’s willingness to deescalate. We are willing to hand him over as soon as possible.”
The 35-year-old Wing Commander was captured by Pakistan on Wednesday after his MiG was shot down and fell in Pakistani territory during an aerial dogfight.
