Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stated in a July 4 interview with Al Jazeera that Islamabad “would not oppose” extraditing “individuals of concern” such as Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar to India—provided New Delhi cooperates by supplying credible evidence and witnesses. He emphasized that such a move could serve as a confidence‑building measure in bilateral relations.
However, his remarks drew sharp criticism. Talha Saeed, son of Hafiz Saeed, condemned Bilawal’s statement as “an insult to Pakistan’s sovereignty” and claimed it brought national disgrace. He and other hardline voices accused Bilawal of echoing Indian narratives and undermining Pakistan’s stance on terrorism.
Even the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party weighed in, calling Bilawal an “immature political child” and demanding an explanation for what it described as a dangerous appeasement strategy.
Amid the diplomatic flare-up, Bilawal clarified that Hafiz Saeed is already behind bars in Pakistan, and stated that Masood Azhar is likely in Afghanistan—adding, “If India provides proof that he is on Pakistani soil, we’ll arrest him.”
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