Pakistan Signals Openness to Extradite Terror Suspects to India

In a surprising statement, former Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has indicated that Pakistan is willing to consider extraditing terrorists such as Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar to India as a gesture of goodwill. However, the remarks have sparked controversy, with Hafiz Saeed’s son, Talha Saeed, strongly criticizing the proposal.

In an interview, Bhutto, who chairs the Pakistan People’s Party, emphasized that Pakistan would not oppose handing over “individuals of concern” to India if New Delhi demonstrates a willingness to cooperate. He described the potential extradition of Hafiz Saeed, the head of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Masood Azhar, the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), as part of a broader dialogue addressing terrorism. According to Pakistan’s National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta), both LeT and JeM are banned organizations in the country. Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks, is currently serving a 33-year sentence for terror financing, while Masood Azhar, a UN-designated global terrorist, has been proscribed by Nacta.

Bhutto clarified that legal actions against Saeed and Azhar in Pakistan have primarily focused on domestic issues, such as terror financing. He noted that prosecuting them for cross-border terrorism is challenging due to what he described as India’s “noncompliance” in providing necessary evidence and witnesses. “India is refusing to comply with certain basic elements required for a conviction,” Bhutto, adding that cooperation from New Delhi, including providing testimony in Pakistani courts, would facilitate extradition processes.

Addressing the whereabouts of the two terrorists, Bhutto maintained that Hafiz Saeed is in custody in Pakistan, refuting claims that he is a free man. Regarding Masood Azhar, he stated that Pakistan believes the JeM leader is in Afghanistan and has been unable to apprehend him. “If the Indian government shares information confirming he is on Pakistani soil, we will be more than happy to arrest him,” Bhutto asserted.
The comments drew sharp criticism from Talha Saeed, who labeled Bhutto’s statements as factually incorrect and damaging to Pakistan’s global reputation. Talha, himself a designated global terrorist, argued that his father’s extradition would bring disgrace to the nation.

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Despite the bans on LeT and JeM, reports indicate that such terrorists continue to operate freely in Pakistan, allegedly with support from the country’s military establishment. Bhutto’s remarks come amid strained India-Pakistan relations, with New Delhi consistently demanding action against Saeed and Azhar, who are linked to major attacks in India, including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the 2016 Pathankot airbase assault, and the 2019 Pulwama bombing. Masood Azhar was released from Indian custody in 1999 during a hostage exchange following the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 in Kandahar.

Bhutto’s suggestion of extradition as a “confidence-building measure” reflects a potential shift in Pakistan’s stance, but its feasibility remains uncertain given the ongoing tensions and Talha Saeed’s vocal opposition.