Harkatul Mujahideen disowns Masood Azhar

ISLAMABAD (NNI): Chief of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen Fazl-ur-Rehman Khalil has disowned Maulana Masood Azhar, who was freed by India on the demand of hijackers of the Indian plane for the release of 160 hostages.

"Masood Azhar was with us three or four years ago but he has not been a member of our group for the last three years," Khalil told the BBC.

He said Masood Azhar he was a journalist and was not a regular member of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen group. "He was a journalist, writing reports and article about Kashmir. Therefore, he was also related to us. However, he was not our regular member," Khalil insisted.

He rejected the US claim regarding their involvement in the hijacking of Indian plane, saying that if there are any proofs in this regard, they should be presented to the international community.

He condemned hijacking of the Indian plane and rejected the allegations about involvement of his group in the hijacking.

"We have no links with the hijackers and we do not believe in such activities. This is a wrong allegation against us. There is no proof and we also want that if the United States considers us involved in the incident it should present to the world," the Harkat Chief said.

He said one of the three freed persons, Mushtaq Zargar belongs to the "Al-Umar Mujahideen" group and hails from occupied Kashmir. The other Sheikh Umar also has no links with Harkat.