Masood Azhar Located in Gilgit-Baltistan, Far from Bahawalpur Base: Intelligence Sources

According to information obtained by India Today, Jaish-e-Mohammed leader Masood Azhar, one of India's most wanted terrorists, has been recently located in Gilgit-Baltistan, a region in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This area is more than 1,000 kilometers from his usual base in Bahawalpur.

Azhar was specifically noted to be in the Skardu area, near Sadpara Road, which is home to at least two mosques, associated madrasas, and several guest houses, both private and government-owned.

Skardu is known for its scenic lakes and nature parks, making it an unexpected location for the leader of a terror organization that is banned by the United Nations.

This development follows a statement by Pakistan's former foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who implied that Azhar might be in Afghanistan. He further suggested that if Azhar were found in Pakistan, Islamabad would be willing to extradite him to India.

"We would gladly apprehend him if the Indian government provides evidence of his presence on Pakistani soil," Bhutto said in an interview with Al Jazeera.

Azhar has orchestrated multiple terror attacks in India, notably the 2016 assault on the Pathankot airbase and the 2019 Pulwama attack, which resulted in the deaths of more than 40 soldiers.

Indian intelligence services are monitoring Azhar's movements, even as Jaish-e-Mohammed utilizes online channels to spread misleading information, reusing old audio recordings of Azhar to indicate he is still in Bahawalpur.

In Bahawalpur, Azhar is associated with two significant locations: Jamia Subhan Allah, the Jaish headquarters which was targeted by India during Operation Sindoor, and Jamia Usman O Ali, a mosque near his former residence and a hospital.

Reports indicate that Indian strikes on Jamia Subhan Allah resulted in the deaths of 10 of Azhar's family members.

Azhar, sanctioned by India, the United States, and the United Nations, is held accountable for numerous terror incidents in India, including the 2001 Parliament attack.

He was previously held by Indian authorities until his release was secured through the hijacking of an aircraft, after which Azhar established Jaish e Mohammad.

This is not the first instance of Azhar being relocated from Bahawalpur. Following the Balakot air strikes in 2019, he was moved to a secure location in Peshawar.

Azhar is not the sole terrorist leader to find refuge in Pakistan. Syed Salahuddin, the head of Hizbul Mujahideen, another designated terrorist group, is believed to reside in an upscale area of Islamabad.

Salahuddin also maintains an office in a crowded suburban neighborhood in Burma Town, where he is often accompanied by armed guards.