We Contacted JeM, Group Says It’s Not Behind Pulwama: Pak Minister

A day earlier, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Masood Azhar is in Pakistan and is unwell.

File photo of Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

(Photo: AP)

A day after he said that Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar is in Pakistan and is unwell, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi pointed out that the terror outfit has not claimed responsibility for the Pulwama attack and there’s confusion if it was behind the strike. He also conceded that “people” in Pakistan known to JeM are in touch with its leadership.

When asked about JeM claiming the Pulwama attack, Qureshi told the BBC in an interview on Friday, 1 March: “We are not sure of that.”

“The confusion is that the leadership, when contacted, they said no. (The leadership has been contacted) by people over here. They deny that… they claimed no responsibility… there’s confusion. There are conflicting reports on it.”

Shah Mahmood Qureshi, as told to the BBC

‘Won’t Allow Pakistan to Be Used for Terrorist Activity’

Qureshi asserted that his country’s policy on terrorism is very clear, in that they would “not allow Pakistani soil to be used by any group or any organisation for terrorist activity against anyone, including India.”

While attempting to avoid direct references to JeM Chief Masood Azhar, Qureshi called for India to share evidence with Pakistan. “Then, we can articulate the case in court, and we can justify action against that individual or that organisation to the people of Pakistan,” he added, as he reiterated that his country wants a de-escalation of tensions.

“We are studying the dossier (given by India on Pulwama attack). If India wants to initiate a dialogue based on this dossier, we are willing to engage with them.”

Shah Mahmood Qureshi, as told to the BBC

He also questioned the air strikes across the LoC by the Indian Air Force on 26 February.

“India claimed they hit 3 terror camps. Where are they? They claimed that they killed 350 terrorists. Where are the bodies,” the Pakistan minister asked.

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Qureshi said that India has taken an “extreme position.”

“The pendulum has gone so far, coming back would be challenging for him (PM Modi),” Qureshi added.

In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Thursday, 28 February, Qureshi had said that Masood Azhar is unwell to the extent that he can’t leave his house.

“He is in Pakistan according to my information, he is very unwell. He is unwell to the extent that he can’t leave his house,” Qureshi had told Amanpour.