Act against Hafiz: India to Pak
Simran Sodhi
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 4
Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed’s latest statement praising the Pathankot attack and saying more such attacks could take place has added another complication to the India-Pakistan relationship. While the two countries are trying to find a “mutually convenient” date to hold the Foreign Secretary talks, which were rescheduled following the Pathankot attacks, Saeed’s statement is likely to make that task harder.
The Ministry of External Affairs today condemned Saeed’s statement, who it referred to as a “globally designated terrorist”, and said the “authorities concerned” need to take action since Saeed’s rallies are getting coverage in the electronic media there.
MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said: “Globally designated international terrorist Hafiz Saeed continues to enjoy the freedom to indulge in their activities in Pakistan.
“His claims that his various front organisations are carrying out charitable work is a fig leaf. It is not even a fig leaf, I would say. They indulge in terrorist activities and terrorist financing, it should be a matter of great concern for everyone that people like Hafiz Saeed and his associates continue to enjoy the freedom to indulge in their activities.”
India has squarely blamed Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad for the Pathankot attacks. India has also submitted “actionable intelligence” to Pakistan insisting the perpetrators of the attacks need to be brought to justice.
As far as Saeed is concerned, India has always maintained he was the mastermind of the Mumbai 26/11 attacks.
Pakistan’s inability to reign in elements like Saeed and his recent statement, made at a public rally on Wednesday, are likely to further complicate the situation.
The official spokesperson today asked Islamabad to initiate action against such elements. “In October, we had seen that the Government of Pakistan had banned the electronic coverage of some of these organizations, including the one to which Hafiz Saeed belongs. But we are seeing now that Hafiz Saeed is making statements after statements and his rallies are being covered. So, obviously the authorities concerned need to take action,” he added.
