Pakistan: Jihad leader resurfaces after two decades in hiding, vows jihad against India and Israel

Masood Azhar is likely to have been in Pakistan all this time. Our old friend and ally once again shows its true colors.

“Masood Azhar resurfaces after decades, calls for global jihad against India and Israel,” MyIndMakers, December 4, 2024:

Fugitive jihadist commander Masood Azhar has resurfaced after more than two decades, delivering a fiery speech to the cadre of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM). The address, announced on a JeM-operated online forum on Tuesday, marks Azhar’s first confirmed appearance in years and signals renewed terror threats. The speech commemorated the centennial of the dissolution of the Turkish caliphate in 1924, with Azhar vowing jihadist operations against India and Israel to establish a global Islamic caliphate.

While Jaish-linked platforms have periodically released old speeches by Azhar, this is the first that can be conclusively dated due to references to the ongoing Gaza war. The exact timing and location of the address remain undisclosed, but Indian intelligence sources believe it took place late last month at the 1,000-acre Umm-ul-Qura seminary and mosque complex near Bahawalpur, Pakistan.

Despite Pakistani authorities claiming administrative control of the complex in 2019, locals report that JeM has erected new structures and posted armed guards to prevent unauthorised entry. “India, your death is coming,” Azhar declared repeatedly, drawing loud applause from his audience.

Azhar’s speech included calls for transnational violence and accusations against global leaders. “Fearful rulers who do not believe in the word of Allah and jihad have led us to defeat in Kashmir, Palestine and other Muslim lands,” he said. “I am ashamed that a weakling like Modi challenges us, or a mouse like Netanyahu dances on our graves.” He invoked the Babri Masjid dispute, asking, “Are there not even 300 people who can fight to reclaim my Babri Masjid?”

Azhar also referred to Sirajuddin Haqqani, Afghanistan’s Minister of Internal Affairs and a US-designated terrorist. He claimed Haqqani had a vision of an army marching to Palestine, only to find JeM forces already present.

Historically, Azhar has been closely linked to al-Qaeda. He worked alongside its commanders in Somalia in 1993 and reportedly held meetings with Osama bin Laden in Kenya and Saudi Arabia. CIA documents reveal that Harkat-ul-Ansar, Azhar’s earlier group, received monthly financial support of $30,000–$60,000 from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

The timing of Azhar’s speech has raised questions about Pakistan’s intentions. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto had claimed in 2022 that Azhar had escaped to Afghanistan ahead of efforts to declare him a proclaimed offender. However, this declaration coincided with Pakistan’s successful bid to be removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) terror financing watchlist….