Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has admitted that Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar is in Pakistan and is “unwell”, but said the government could act against him only if India presented “solid” and “inalienable” evidence that could stand in a court of law.
Qureshi’s remarks came amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after the February 14 terror attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (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 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.
Masood Azhar is in Pakistan, he is very unwell, he's unwell to the extent that he can't leave house because he is really unwell. That's the information I have. If they have evidence share with us so that we can convince the people and the judiciary: Shah Mahmood Qureshi. pic.twitter.com/kngJB5x1BT
— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) March 1, 2019
“He is in Pakistan, according to my information. He is unwell to the extent that he can’t leave his house, because he’s really unwell,” Qureshi told CNN when asked about Azhar
Azhar is the chief of the JeM that claimed responsibility for the February 14 Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. 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.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister,Shah Mahmood Qureshi, by mistake accepts on BBC News that their government is in contact with the leadership of terrorist group Jaish e Muhammad which had claimed the responsibility of #PulwamaTerrorAttack !!!!!!#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan #Abhinandan pic.twitter.com/pZFdj6IsdR
— Desi Joker (@_dontbeserious) March 1, 2019
Qureshi also said Pakistan would take action against him if presented with “evidence that can stand in a court of law”.
“If they have solid, inalienable evidence that is acceptable to courts of Pakistan, share it with us so that we can convince the people and we can convince the independent judiciary of Pakistan,” Qureshi said.
“We need to satisfy the legal process,” he said.
It’s up to Pakistan where to use F-16 aircraft because we’ve paid for them. We purchased them from America and didn’t get them in a grant. So we’ll decide where to deploy them: Fawad Chuadhry.
— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) March 1, 2019
Use of F-16 jets against India was denied by Pakistan earlier. https://t.co/l4wr9GPiMy
Qureshi also added that the release of captured IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is a “peace gesture” and must be seen as Pakistan’s “willingness to de-escalate”.
Varthaman, who is in Pakistan’s custody since Wednesday is likely to be released at the Wagah border on Friday.
Pakistani FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi tells CNN that Masood Azhar is in Pakistan but too unwell to be arrested. Facepalm. 😳pic.twitter.com/5BAXkOR7qj
— Ammara Ahmad (@ammarawrites) March 1, 2019
India has wonderful doctors.
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) March 1, 2019
We can take care of his ‘disease’.
Pakistan should hand over Masood Azhar.
EAM Sushma Swaraj can help in visa. https://t.co/ykiHFTWk32
Medanta in Gurgaon could be his starting point 😛 https://t.co/jvL2YMBKoI
— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) March 1, 2019
Aaaaaaaaaah ... Masood Azhar is so unwell ... aaaah ... that the charb zuban Aitchisonian .... aaaaah can’t even freaking lie .... aaaah ... with fitness ;)
— Mohammad Taqi (@mazdaki) March 1, 2019
The script he read was written by an FA pass. So ignore English plz.
— Ahmad Waqass Goraya (@AWGoraya) March 1, 2019
Yesterday , theyvpromised the action against them and totay he is ill. It is an organization, with half family directly linked to this terror network .