JeM hasn’t claimed responsibility for Pulwama Attack: Pak Minister Shah

Islamabad: An apparent twist came in Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi's claim, just a day after he alleged that Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar is in Pakistan and is very unwell. Shah, in an interview on March 1, pointed out that JeM has not taken responsibility for the Pulwama attack and it isn't clear if it was behind the strike.

Upon asked about JeM claiming the Pulwama attack, Qureshi told the media, “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 further added.

Mr. Qureshi also steered his country off of any terrorist activity and that they would “not allow Pakistani soil to be used by any group or any organisation for terrorist activity against anyone, including India.”

Avoiding direct references to JeM Chief Masood Azhar, Qureshi asked India to produce evidence to proof Pakistan's role in terror funding. “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 saying his country promotes de-escalation of tensions between the two Nations.

“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,” said Shah Mahmood.

Defying India's claims of anti-terror attacks in Pakistan, demolishing terror camps there Pak Minister said, “India claimed they hit 3 terror camps. Where are they? They claimed that they killed 350 terrorists. Where are the bodies.”

Taking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Qureshi said that India has taken an “extreme position” and that “The pendulum has gone so far, coming back would be challenging for him (Modi).”

It is to be mentioned that the Pakistan-based terror group, Jaish-e-Mohammed had recently claimed the responsibility of appalling Pulwama terror attack, through a video on internet. Taking full responsibility for the suicide bombing in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 14, the JeM released a video of suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar soon after the attack.

India has been repeatedly trying to list him as a “global terrorist” at the United Nations Security Council. However, China has single-handedly blocked all attempts of India.

Supporting India’s demand to ban Pakistan based terror outfit, Jaish-e-Mohammed and designate its chief, Masood Azhar, a global terrorist, a fresh proposal has been submitted by the US, UK and France at the United Nations Security Council( UNSC). If the proposal is passed, JeM and its chief, Masood Azhar will be designated as ‘UN-designated global terrorist’, which in turn would impose on him a global travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo.

Qureshi also said that Pakistan will take action against him if presented with “evidence that can stand in a court of law.” “If they have solid, inalienable evidence that is acceptable to courts of Pakistan, share it with us so that we can convince the people and we can convince the independent judiciary of Pakistan,” the foreign minister said, adding that there is a “need to satisfy the legal process.”

The Masood Azhar-led JeM has carried out a series of terror strikes in India – The 2001 terror attack on the Indian Parliament, the 2016 Pathankot terror attack, the 2016 Uri terror attack, and 2019 Pulwama terror attack are among the many terror attacks by this group.