Maulana Masood Azhar suffers heart attack

Maulana Masood Azhar, the founder of the terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), has reportedly suffered a heart attack. According to sources, Azhar was in Afghanistan’s Khost province when his health deteriorated. He has since been transported to Pakistan and is currently receiving treatment at the Combined Military Hospital in Karachi.

Azhar’s Role in Major Terrorist Attacks in India

Azhar is a globally recognized terrorist, implicated in several high-profile attacks in India, including the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, the 2016 Pathankot attack, and the 2019 Pulwama attack. His activities have been a significant point of contention between India and Pakistan, with India consistently demanding decisive action against him.

Released in the IC-814 Hijacking Incident

In 1999, Azhar was released from Indian custody in exchange for passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-814. Since then, he has continued to lead JeM, orchestrating numerous terrorist activities. In September 2019, India designated him as an individual terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Reports indicate that cardiologists from Islamabad have been called to Karachi to oversee Azhar’s treatment. There is also speculation about transferring him to a larger military hospital in Rawalpindi for further care. The exact details of his current health condition remain undisclosed.

This development has reignited discussions about Pakistan’s alleged role in harboring terrorists. While Pakistan has consistently denied providing sanctuary to such individuals, former Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto had previously hinted at Azhar’s presence in Afghanistan. The recent events have once again brought these issues to the forefront, highlighting the complexities of regional security dynamics.

With inputs from agencies
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