Islamabad – July 7, 2025
PPP Chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that Pakistan has no objection to extraditing “individuals of concern” to India, provided New Delhi cooperates and follows due legal process.
In a recent interview with Al Jazeera, Bilawal was asked whether handing over high-profile militants like Hafiz Saeed or Masood Azhar could serve as a goodwill gesture in a future peace dialogue with India. “If terrorism is part of a comprehensive dialogue, and India cooperates on legal procedures, I don’t see Pakistan opposing such steps,” Bilawal stated.
Both Saeed and Azhar are designated terrorists in Pakistan — Saeed is serving a 33-year sentence for terror financing, while Azhar is officially proscribed. Bilawal noted that prosecutions so far have been based on Pakistan-related charges, adding that trials over cross-border terrorism have stalled due to lack of cooperation from India. “India hasn’t presented witnesses or allowed cross-examination. Without that, convictions can’t proceed,” he said.
When asked about Azhar’s current location, Bilawal maintained that Islamabad believes he is in Afghanistan. “We’ve been unable to locate him here. If India provides credible information that he’s in Pakistan, we will act immediately,” he said, adding that Saeed is already in custody.
Commenting on India’s current posture, Bilawal criticised New Delhi’s doctrine of military retaliation after terror incidents. “The new abnormal is that any terror attack in India is used to justify war with Pakistan,” he warned. “This reckless threshold brings two nuclear nations to the brink over actions of non-state actors — and that’s not a future 1.7 billion people should be subjected to.”
Bilawal reiterated his long-standing call for dialogue, cautioning against a cycle of blame and escalation. “We cannot let nameless terrorists hold peace hostage while governments stay locked in silence.”
