Zarvan
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NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD: Maulana Masood Azhar, the Pakistani Islamic hardliner blamed for an attack on Indian Parliament that brought the nuclear rivals to the brink of war, has resurfaced after years in seclusion, setting off alarm bells in New Delhi.
Twice since the end of December, authorities have issued an airport security alert, warning of an attempt by members of a Pakistan-based terror group called Jaish-e-Mohammad, to hijack a plane, with smaller airfields most at risk. Officials have said the alerts followed reports of increased activity by Masood Azhar, the leader of the group.
Azhar was named by a court as the prime suspect in the 2001 attack on Parliament aimed at taking top political leaders hostage. Fifteen people were killed, most of them security guards as well as the five men who stormed the complex. Tensions between the old enemies spiralled after the attack and up to a million troops were mobilized on both sides of the volatile border. Pakistan refused to hand over Azhar to India.
The portly and bearded cleric has remained mostly confined to a compound in his home city of Bhawalpur in Pakistan's Punjab province for years, but three weeks ago, he addressed supporters and said the time had come to resume jihad against India.
Pakistani terrorist Masood Azhar resurfaces - The Times of India
Twice since the end of December, authorities have issued an airport security alert, warning of an attempt by members of a Pakistan-based terror group called Jaish-e-Mohammad, to hijack a plane, with smaller airfields most at risk. Officials have said the alerts followed reports of increased activity by Masood Azhar, the leader of the group.
Azhar was named by a court as the prime suspect in the 2001 attack on Parliament aimed at taking top political leaders hostage. Fifteen people were killed, most of them security guards as well as the five men who stormed the complex. Tensions between the old enemies spiralled after the attack and up to a million troops were mobilized on both sides of the volatile border. Pakistan refused to hand over Azhar to India.
The portly and bearded cleric has remained mostly confined to a compound in his home city of Bhawalpur in Pakistan's Punjab province for years, but three weeks ago, he addressed supporters and said the time had come to resume jihad against India.
Pakistani terrorist Masood Azhar resurfaces - The Times of India