US says Pakistan must arrest 26/11 Mumbai mastermind, LeT founder Hafiz Saeed

United States has strongly reacted and has expressed deep concern over release of Mumbai attack mastermind and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed by a Pakistani court. A US official on Friday said, "The Pakistani government should make sure that he is arrested and charged for his crimes."

US State Department spokesperson, Heather Nauert, in a statement said, “The United States is deeply concerned that Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) leader Hafiz Saeed has been released from house arrest in Pakistan.”

She added, “LeT is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization responsible for the death of hundreds of innocent civilians in terrorist attacks, including a number of American citizens.”

On Thursday, India had reacted strongly to the release of Saeed by a Pakistani court. Ravish Kumar, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, had said, “It appears to be an attempt by Pakistani system to mainstream proscribed terrorists.”

The MEA spokesperson had also said, “It is evident that Pakistan has not changed its policy of shielding and supporting non state actors, and its true face is visible for all to see.”

The LeT founder walked free on Thursday after a review board of Lahore Court on Wednesday had rejected an appeal of the Punjab government seeking to extend the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief's detention for more three months and ordered his release. Saeed is set to walk free from house arrest in Pakistan on Thursday if the government does not detain him in any other case. The US has announced $10 million bounty on Saeed for his role in terrorist activities.