Pakistan's ex-foreign minister and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has stated that his nation would consider extraditing "individuals of concern" to India as part of a wider effort to enhance bilateral relations—subject to New Delhi showing a willingness to cooperate in the process.
During an interview with Al Jazeera on Friday, Bilawal was questioned about extraditing LeT leader Hafiz Saeed and JeM chief Masood Azhar as a gesture of goodwill to India. In response to a report from Dawn, Bilawal answered: "Part of a wide-ranging conversation with Pakistan, where terrorism is just one of the issues that we are discussing, I am certain Pakistan would not be against any of these things."
Both LeT and JeM are legally outlawed in Pakistan by the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta). Hafiz Saeed, who is accused of orchestrating the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, is already in prison for 33 years for terror financing. Masood Azhar, on the other hand, is designated as a global terrorist by the UN as well as listed under Nacta.
Bilawal explained that the legal proceedings against them in Pakistan are centered around domestic cases—specifically terror financing-related. He said, however, that prosecuting them for cross-border terrorism presents serious legal hurdles because of what he explained as a lack of cooperation from India.
"India is not cooperating with certain basic requirements that necessitate that conviction to occur," he explained.
"It's crucial … to bring evidence in these courts, to have people come over from India to testify, to tolerate whatever the counter-allegations will be."
Highlighting the necessity of a cooperative legal setup, Bilawal further said:
"If India is cooperative in that effort, I am certain there would be no obstacle in extraditing any person of concern."
The PPP leader also expressed concern about India's "new abnormal" policy on counterterrorism, saying that it detracts from regional peace.
"This is not in the interest of Pakistan, and this is not in the interest of India," he said.
When asked about the whereabouts of the two militant commanders, Bilawal asserted that Saeed is in detention. With regard to Azhar, he stated that Pakistan thinks he is outside the geographical limits of the country.
"It is factually not true that Hafiz Saeed is free; he is under the custody of the Pakistani state," he claimed.
As for where Azhar could be, Bilawal stated: "It is our impression that he is in Afghanistan."
He further added, "If and when the government of India provides us with information that he is on our territory, we will be more than willing to arrest him."
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