India on Monday extended cautious support to Pakistan’s crackdown against Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Hafiz Saeed.
ADVERTISEMENT
Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup said in a statement that placing Mr. Saeed under the anti-terror act of Pakistan is the ‘first step’.
“Effective action mandated internationally against him [Hafiz Saeed] and his terrorist organisations and colleagues is a logical first step in bringing them to justice, and in ridding our region of the twin menaces of terrorism and violent extremism,” Mr. Swarup said.
India’s comments came two days after Pakistan listed Mr. Saeed and four of his aides under the anti-terrorism act of Punjab province, and imposed further restrictions on his movements.
Pakistan had begun taking steps against the terror leader and had placed him under “preventive detention” on January 30. At that time, India had demanded “credible crackdown” and imposition of U.N. sanctions on him.
“Exercises such as yesterday’s orders against Hafiz Saeed and others have been carried out by Pakistan in the past also. Only a credible crackdown on the mastermind of the Mumbai terrorist attack and terrorist organisations involved in cross-border terrorism would be proof of Pakistan’s sincerity,” said the MEA in a statement in January and added, “We have also consistently called for bringing known terrorists under the ambit of the 1267 sanctions.”
Following the initial crackdown, reports had suggested that Mr. Saeed was planning to launch a political party to mainstream his activities.
“Hafiz Saeed is an international terrorist, the mastermind of Mumbai terrorist attack and responsible for unleashing wave[s] of terrorism against Pakistan’s neighbours through Let/JuD and their affiliates,” Mr. Swarup said on Monday, arguing for further action against terror suspects.
ADVERTISEMENT