Detain, charge Hafiz Saeed for his crimes or face 'repercussions', US warns Pakistan

The White House on Saturday said there would be “repercussions” for Pakistan’s global reputation and bilateral relations with US if it does not take action to detain and charge recently freed Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed for his crimes.

"Saeed's release, after Pakistan's failure to prosecute or charge him, sends a deeply troubling message about Pakistan's commitment to (combating) international terrorism and belies Pakistani claims that it will not provide sanctuary for terrorists on its soil," the White House said in a statement.

"If Pakistan does not take action to lawfully detain Saeed and charge him for his crimes, its inaction will have repercussions for bilateral relations and for Pakistan's global reputation," it added.

Hafiz Saeed, Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) head and LeT founder has a USD 10 million American bounty on his head for terror activities. He was under house arrest since January this year but freed by Pakistan this week.

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India reacted strongly to Saeed’s release and said the action has confirmed once again the lack of seriousness by the Pakistan government in bringing to justice perpetrators of terrorism, including individuals and entities designated by the UN.

"India, as indeed the entire international community, is outraged that a self-confessed and UN proscribed terrorist is being allowed to walk free and continue with his evil agenda," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Thursday.

Pakistan, however, justified the release of UN and US designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed, claiming that Islamabad was committed to the implementation of UNSC sanctions regime on terrorists.

Reacting to Indian External Ministry’s statement, Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said, “The (MEA) spokesperson took exception to self-serving insinuations.”