NIA to Hand Over More Evidence to the Govt Against JeM Chief Azhar

New evidence against JeM Chief Masood Azhar will be sent to the UN, to have him declared an international terrorist.

PM Modi and Chinese Premiere Xi in Chian last year (left), Jaish-e-Masood Chief Masood Azhar. (Photo: PIB/Reuters)

According to a source in the NIA, the agency is to give new evidence to the Indian government against the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief, Maulana Masood Azhar. During the Pathankot terror attack investigation, the agency unearthed documents which revealed that the trust and magazine run by JeM – Al Ahaam and Al Kalam – are used to collect funds, which are eventually used in terror activities. NIA has in their possession intercepted records of phone conversations between Azhar and his other accomplice, which hint towards his involvement in terror activities.

We will hand over the evidence against Azhar to the government. It will help India to push its case in UN to declare Azhar an international terrorist.

Senior Official, NIA

NIA gathered this evidence with the assistance of IB and RAW. China recently blocked India’s bid at the UN to declare Azhar, the mastermind of Pathankot, a terrorist. China requested the UN Committee to keep the ‘international terrorist’ designation against Azhar on hold. China was alone among the 14 members to block India’s request. The US, UK and France were fully in support of India. JeM is already designated a terror group, and China gave no reason to the committee for blocking India’s move.

In response to China’s move, India released this statement:

The recent terror attack in Pathankot on 2 January has shown that India continues to bear the dangerous consequences of not listing Masood Azhar. Given the global networking of terrorist groups, this has implications for the entire international community.  

Ministry of External Affairs