India has urged Pakistan to take immediate and decisive action against Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) leader Masood Azhar following reports of his recent public address in Bahawalpur, which has raised concerns about Pakistan’s continued inaction against terrorism.

At a media briefing on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized the need for accountability, stating, “We call for strong measures against Masood Azhar and insist he be brought to justice. If these reports are true, they expose Pakistan’s duplicity. Azhar is directly involved in cross-border terrorism targeting India.”

Reports indicate that Azhar spoke to JeM members for the first time in over two decades at the Umm-ul-Qura seminary near Bahawalpur. In his speech, he reportedly called for renewed terror campaigns against India and Israel, invoking the Gaza conflict to rally his supporters.

This public appearance marks Azhar’s return to the spotlight after years of being kept away from the public due to Pakistan’s internal political concerns. While past speeches from Azhar have been circulated by JeM, this address stands out due to its direct references to ongoing events, providing a clear timeline for his involvement.

India has expressed growing alarm over Pakistan’s reluctance to combat terrorism, with Azhar’s involvement in major attacks such as the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the 2019 Pulwama attack continuing to symbolize the persistent extremism in the region.

The 1,000-acre site where Azhar reportedly delivered the speech serves as JeM’s operational headquarters, including administrative offices and residential areas. Despite Pakistan’s denials of his presence, the country has faced international criticism for allegedly shielding Azhar from scrutiny.

India’s renewed call for action underscores its frustration with Pakistan’s failure to hold Azhar accountable for orchestrating terror attacks against India.