Pakistan's terror game exposed: Masood Azhar spotted in PoK's Gilgit-Baltistan, 1000 km away from Bahawalpur stronghold

FIle Photo - Indian Muslims hold a scratched photo of Jaish-e-Mohammad group chief, Maulana Masood Azhar, as they shout slogans against Pakistan during a protest in Mumbai on February 15, 2019, the day after an attack on a paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in the Lethpora area of Kashmir.

In a development that once again exposes Pakistan’s duplicity on terrorism, fresh intelligence inputs accessed by India Today suggest that Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief and UN-designated global terrorist Masood Azhar has been sighted in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s (PoK) Gilgit-Baltistan region. The revelation contradicts Pakistan’s repeated denials and claims that Azhar is missing or possibly in Afghanistan.

Azhar, India's most wanted terrorist and the mastermind behind deadly attacks including the 2016 Pathankot airbase strike and the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing, was recently seen in Skardu, specifically near the Sadpara Road area. Known for its tourist attractions and serene lakes, Skardu offers a discrete hideout. The locality hosts two mosques, associated madrasas, and a number of guesthouses -- a quiet but fortified setup, ideal for sheltering a high-value fugitive like Azhar.

The intelligence revelation flatly contradicts former Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s recent claims. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Bhutto had said, "If and when the Indian government shares information with us that he is on Pakistani soil, we would be more than happy to arrest him." He had even claimed Azhar might be in Afghanistan.

The duplicity is glaring. Even as Pakistan projects willingness to act against terrorists, it continues to shelter them in areas under its direct control — a pattern India has repeatedly exposed.

Masood Azhar's presence in Gilgit-Baltistan -- over 1,000 km from his long-time stronghold of Bahawalpur -- marks a significant shift. Indian intelligence agencies have confirmed that Jaish's online ecosystem is actively trying to mask this relocation. They are recycling old speeches and releasing outdated audio clips to give the impression that Azhar remains holed up in Bahawalpur.

For years, Azhar operated with impunity from Bahawalpur. He has two major establishments there -- Jamia Subhan Allah, JeM's headquarters (targeted by Indian air strikes during Operation Sindoor), and Jamia Usman O Ali, a mosque near his old residence and close to a local hospital. Reports say India’s airstrikes on Jamia Subhan Allah during Operation Sindoor killed 10 members of Azhar’s family.

This is not the first time Azhar has been moved around to avoid global scrutiny. Following the 2019 Balakot strikes, he was whisked away from Bahawalpur to a secret safe house in Peshawar. Now, his relocation to Skardu further underscores how Pakistan’s deep state continues to shield high-profile terrorists despite international pressure.

Azhar, sanctioned by India, the US, and the United Nations, was once in Indian custody but was released in 1999 after his associates hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-814. His release came at the cost of national security -- a price India continues to pay through Jaish's repeated acts of terror.

Importantly, Azhar is not the only terrorist thriving under Pakistani protection. Syed Salahuddin, head of Hizbul Mujahideen and another globally sanctioned terrorist, is said to be living in comfort in a posh Islamabad neighborhood. According to India Today, Salahuddin also maintains an operational office in Burma Town, a densely populated Islamabad suburb, where he is often spotted moving with armed security.

Pakistan’s continued harbouring of terrorists like Azhar and Salahuddin reaffirms what India and much of the world already know -- that Islamabad is not just a sanctuary but a systemic enabler of terrorism. With its credibility eroding fast, this latest intelligence should raise fresh questions globally about Pakistan’s role in promoting cross-border terrorism while pretending to play victim.