World | Pakistan
Pakistan says militant leader Azhar not in custody
Pakistan’s foreign minister on Thursday said authorities are not holding a Pakistani militant leader who is one of the men most wanted by India.
- Agencies
- Published: 16:03 December 18, 2008
Islamabad: Pakistan's foreign minister on Thursday said authorities are not holding a Pakistani militant leader who is one of the men most wanted by India.
Maulana Masood Azhar is leader of the Jaish-e-Mohammad militant group that for years has battled Indian security forces in its part of the divided Kashmir region.
The group, along with Lashkar-e-Taiba, are blamed for a 2001 attack on the Indian parliament.
Earlier this month, a Pakistani intelligence official said Azhar had been detained as part of a crackdown that Pakistani authorities launched after the militant attacks on the Indian city of Mumbai last month.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told Pakistan's Dawn Television late on Wednesday that Azhar was in custody, but retracted the comments on Thursday saying: "That's not right. Other people have been detained but Mr Masood Azhar is at large. We have no knowledge of his whereabouts."
India has blamed "elements" in Pakistan and the Lashkar-e-Taiba for the attack.
Share this article
News Editor's choice
-
A year after 173 defenceless people were killed
Mumbai itself is far from safe from another deadly attack, even though the level of security consciousness of the average Mumbaikar has been raised since 26/11
-
Nato supports Obama's plea
European and other allies to send around 6,000 troops to Afghanistan
-
Official confirms mayor is the suspect
Many witnesses have come forward, justice secretary says
-
Into an oasis of values
A place to snuggle in the warmth of old manners away from the bustle of city life
