Bilawal Bhutto’s recent statement on the potential extradition of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed and Jaish-e-Muhammad leader Masood Azhar to India has triggered outrage among jihadi circles in Pakistan, with Talha Saeed, son of the incarcerated Lashkar founder, leading a fierce response.
“Bilawal Bhutto is not a true Muslim; how can he offer my father like this?” Talha Saeed declared, reacting to the former foreign minister’s remarks.
The backlash follows Bilawal’s suggestion that Pakistan would not be opposed to discussing the extradition of terror figures to India as part of a broader dialogue on cross-border terrorism. “As part of a comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan, where terrorism is one of the issues that we discuss, I am sure Pakistan would not be opposed to any of these things,” Bilawal had said when asked about the possibility of handing over Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar as goodwill measures.
Both Saeed and Azhar are designated global terrorists and have been banned by Pakistan’s National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA). Saeed is currently serving a 33-year sentence for terror financing, while Azhar’s whereabouts remain undisclosed, though he is believed to be under unofficial protection.
Talha accused the Pakistan Peoples Party leader of endangering national interests. “We hope our patriotic media will critically discuss Bhutto’s statement, whose family and party have a history of toeing the western and Indian narrative against Pakistan and, on instances, providing them with critical information harming national security,” he said.
Also read: JeM chief Masood Azhar is not in Pakistan: Bhutto
He added that India was itself involved in acts of terrorism within Pakistan, dismissing any gesture of extradition as betrayal. “We hope our media asks whether such individuals should be trusted with foreign policy. Bilawal’s interview raises serious concerns.”
Intelligence inputs suggest militant outfits feel increasingly alienated from the political class, with some accusing elected leaders of distancing themselves from fighters they once tacitly supported. “The political class is playing their game and instead of saving us, are offering us to the enemy,” one group is reported to have stated.
Officials monitoring militant networks say tensions are growing between political figures and extremist groups, particularly in the wake of Pakistan’s efforts to avoid further international blacklisting.
Sources added that Bilawal’s remarks reflect a shift towards greater international cooperation but risk alienating hardline elements who view such gestures as capitulation.
With political discourse in Pakistan at a crossroads, the fallout from Bhutto’s remarks has once again highlighted the delicate balance between counterterrorism commitments and domestic radical sentiments.
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