Bilawal Bhutto: Pakistan Open to Extraditing Terror Suspects to India with Legal Cooperation
Former Pakistani Foreign Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party chairman, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, has indicated that Pakistan is open to extraditing individuals of interest to India, contingent on India's willingness to engage in the legal process and provide substantial evidence. His comments, made in a July 5 interview with Al Jazeera, come as Pakistan faces renewed scrutiny over its handling of terror suspects connected to attacks in India.
When questioned about the potential extradition of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed and Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar as a gesture to build confidence with India, Bilawal expressed that Pakistan would not oppose such actions if they occurred within the framework of a comprehensive dialogue that prioritizes terrorism as a core issue.
"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," he stated, while also accusing India of lacking cooperation in efforts to halt cross-border terrorism.
Bilawal further elaborated that Pakistan's legal system necessitates credible evidence, witness testimonies, and full cooperation from Indian authorities. "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," he added.
Regarding the status of JeM chief Masood Azhar, Bilawal noted that Pakistan is unaware of his location and suggested he might be in Afghanistan. He stressed that Azhar would be apprehended if India provided actionable intelligence confirming his presence in Pakistan. Azhar has been implicated in several major terror attacks in India, such as the 2001 Parliament attack, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the 2016 Pathankot airbase assault, and the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing. He was designated a UN global terrorist in 2019.
In contrast, Hafiz Saeed, accused of masterminding the Mumbai attacks, is currently serving a 33-year prison sentence in Pakistan for terror financing.
Bilawal's remarks emerge amid fragile regional dynamics and ongoing debates regarding Pakistan’s commitment to combating terrorism. Indian authorities have not yet issued an official response to his statement.
