In a recent interview, former Pakistani Foreign Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari articulated Pakistan’s stance on the possible extradition of individuals deemed a concern to India, contingent upon India’s willingness to engage in a legal process backed by credible evidence. His comments were made during an appearance on Al Jazeera, amid growing scrutiny regarding Pakistan’s management of terrorist suspects associated with attacks in India.
Bilawal discussed the potential extradition of key figures linked to terrorism, specifically mentioning Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar. He affirmed that Pakistan would not stand in the way of extradition as part of broader confidence-building measures, provided such steps formed part of a comprehensive dialogue where terrorism would be a focal issue.
He stressed the need for cooperation, stating, “As part of a comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan, where terrorism is one of the issues that we discuss, I am sure Pakistan would not be opposed to any of these things,” while simultaneously criticizing India for its lack of cooperation in addressing cross-border terrorism.
Bilawal elaborated on the legal framework governing such matters in Pakistan, emphasizing that the legal procedures require substantial evidence, witness testimonies, and active participation from Indian authorities. He noted, “India is refusing to comply with certain basic elements that require that conviction to take place. It’s important to present evidence within these courts, for people to come over from India to testify.”
Turning to Masood Azhar’s status, Bilawal remarked that Pakistan currently has no information regarding his location, suggesting that he may be in Afghanistan. He affirmed that Azhar would be detained if India could provide actionable intelligence confirming his presence within Pakistan. Azhar has been implicated in numerous significant terror incidents in India, including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the 2016 Pathankot airbase strike, and the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing. The United Nations designated him as a global terrorist in 2019.
In contrast, Hafiz Saeed, identified as the alleged mastermind of the Mumbai attacks, is presently serving a 33-year sentence in Pakistan on charges related to terror financing.
Bilawal’s statements arrive during a critical juncture in regional relations, igniting discussions about Pakistan’s commitment to combating terrorism. Indian authorities have yet to reply formally to his comments, leaving the international community watching closely as the situation unfolds.
