Taliban Rejects Pakistan’s Claim That Masood Azhar Is Hiding in Afghanistan

The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has rejected Pakistan’s repeated claims that Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar is present in Afghanistan. The Afghan Foreign Ministry said Azhar is not in the country and reiterated that Afghan territory would not be permitted to be used for attacks against other nations. Masood Azhar has long been sought by India in connection with several terrorist attacks, including the 2019 Pulwama attack.

Pakistan has repeatedly claimed that Azhar crossed the Durand Line and fled to Afghanistan in May 2019. The claims have emerged amid international pressure on Pakistan to take stronger action against terrorist organisations and concerns linked to countering terror financing. Pakistan remained on the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list from 2018 to 2022 over deficiencies in measures to combat terror financing. Kabul’s denial has now intensified questions over Pakistan’s claim that Azhar is hiding in Afghanistan.