Recent intelligence reports say that India’s most wanted terrorist, Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, was recently seen in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s Gilgit-Baltistan area. This place is over 1,000 km away from his usual base in Bahawalpur.

Sources say Azhar was spotted in Skardu, near the Sadpara Road area. This area has at least two mosques, some madrasas (religious schools), and several guest houses. Skardu is known for its beautiful lakes and parks and is usually a peaceful tourist spot, making it a quiet hiding place for the leader of a terror group banned by the United Nations.

This new update comes after Pakistan’s former foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, recently said that Masood Azhar might be hiding in Afghanistan. He also said that if India gives proof that Azhar is in Pakistan, the country would arrest him and hand him over.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Bhutto said, “If the Indian government gives us information that Azhar is on Pakistani soil, we would be happy to arrest him.” Masood Azhar is the main person behind many terror attacks in India, including the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack and the 2019 Pulwama attack that killed over 40 Indian soldiers.

Indian intelligence agencies are keeping a close watch on his movements. Meanwhile, Jaish-e-Mohammed is trying to confuse people by sharing old audio clips of Azhar online, making it seem like he’s still at his usual base in Bahawalpur. Azhar has two known places in Bahawalpur: Jamia Subhan Allah – Jaish's main base, which India targeted during Operation Sindoor. Second is Jamia Usman O Ali , a mosque located in a crowded area, close to a hospital, and near Azhar’s old home. Reports say 10 of Azhar’s family members were killed there.

Masood Azhar has been declared a terrorist by India, the United States, and the United Nations. He is believed to be behind many deadly attacks in India, including the 2001 Parliament attack. Azhar was once in Indian jail, but was released after his group hijacked an Indian plane and demanded his release to save the passengers. Soon after, he started his terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed.

This isn’t the first time he has been moved from his usual base in Bahawalpur. After India’s airstrikes in Balakot in 2019, he was secretly shifted to a safe house in Peshawar. Azhar is not the only terrorist hiding in Pakistan. Syed Salahuddin, the head of another terror group Hizbul Mujahideen, is also believed to be living safely in a fancy area of Islamabad. He even has an office in Burma Town, where he’s often seen with armed guards.