‘Could Be In Pakistan’: Taliban Dismiss Pak's Claim Of Masood Azhar Living In Afghanistan

As the Taliban denied the claim of Masood Azhar living in Afghanistan, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) stated that such allegations could affect the relations between Kabul and Islamabad.

New Delhi: Talibani spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid dismissed the claims of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar being in Afghanistan.

According to Afghanistan-based TOLO News, he said that Masood Azhar could in fact be in Pakistan. 

This comes after Pakistan wrote a letter to Afghanistan for the arrest of the UNSC designated international terrorist, as per local Pak media citing sources. As per the report, Maulana Masood Azhar was believed to be probably present in Afghanistan's Nangarhar and Kanhar areas. 

In response to the letter, Islamic Emirate spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said, "The leader of the Jaesh-e-Mohammad group is not here in Afghanistan. This is an organization which could be in Pakistan. Anyway, he is not in Afghanistan and we have not been asked anything like this. We have heard about it in the news. Our reaction is that this is not true," Tolo News reported. 

Notably, the Taliban-led Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) stated that such allegations could affect the relations between Kabul and Islamabad.

"We also call on all parties to refrain from such allegations lacking any proof and documentation. Such media allegations can adversely affect bilateral relations," said Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a Talibani spokesman said, as quoted by TOLO News.

Paris-based international watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) forced Islamabad to take action against some of the UN-designated terrorists as there is the possibility of Pakistan getting out of the grey list.

Sajid Mir, the chief planner of the November 26, 2008 (26/11) terrorist attacks in Mumbai was presumed dead but as per recent reports, he was taken into custody in Pakistan.

The action against the Lashkar e Taiba (LeT) operational commander is deemed as the result of FATF's persistent pressure on Pakistan.

Pakistan maintains that Masood Azhar is not living in Pakistan. Despite claims by Islamabad that he is not traceable, he continues to publish articles on Pakistani social media networks.

He reportedly exhorted JeM cadres to indulge in Jihad and eulogised the Taliban takeover of Kabul, claiming that Taliban victory opened avenues for victories in other regions, news agency ANI reported citing South Asia Press.