Abdul Basit's comment on Hafiz Saeed reflects Pakistan's duplicity over talks and terror

Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit has once again exposed the neighbouring country's duplicity by terming Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief and mastermind of 2009 Mumbai Terror attacks Hafiz Muhammad Saeed as a free man of his country.

What did Abdul Basit say?

Basit had on Monday told media persons in New Delhi,"Saeed was a free Pakistani national and was free to roam around". Basit also contended that Pakistani courts had "already exonerated" Saeed. "There is no case pending against him," he added.

The latest development reveals how serious Pakistan is in bringing to justice all those responsible in Pakistan for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Another question arises that how many proofs does Islamabad need to add the Jamat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief's name in Mumbai terror attack trial.

There are ample evidences against Hafiz Saeed to be framed under terror charges but the fact of the matter is that the Pakistan administration doesn't wants to arrest him for its own vested interests.

Saeed was declared a terrorist by US

Even, Pakistan's 'best friend' United State of America has branded Saeed as a terrorist and his faction Jamat-ud-Dawa as a terror outfit this year. The US would obviously not do so until and unless it has substantial proofs with it. Earlier in 2001, the US had LeT as a foreign terror organisation and later announced a bounty of $10 million on Saeed. United Nations' Security Council had also designated Saeed a terrorist.

Enough evidence against Hafiz Saeed

Even, India provided enough evidence to convict him but as usual Pakistan turned a deaf ear to the issue saying it is not sufficient. Every now and then, Saeed is seen addressing mass gatherings on Pakistani soil and makes anti-India statements but the government has not taken any steps to take prevent him make vitriolic statements in public.

Mumbai terror attacks were executed by the LeT inside Pakistan and LeT chief Hafiz Saeed, sitting inside a control room, personally oversaw the terror strikes along with his key lieutenant Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi.

David Headley too revealed LeT role in 26/11 attack

Even in February 2009, the then Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik had admitted that "some part of the conspiracy" did take place in Pakistan. Hence, it is clear that Abdul Basit lied about Seed getting 'exonerated' in all the charges against him. Even Pakistan's prosecution lawyers, who are involved in the 26/11 trial, had drawn the court's attention to ensure their security in the face of threats they received from JuD activists. But, the Pakistan government has not taken any action against the JuD/LeT chief.

US may have declared JuD, a terror outfit but the PML-N Government of Punjab province, headed by Shahbaz Sharif, allocated Rs 6.1 crore to the organisation in the 2013 budget.

India has always maintained its stand that Saeed is the evil mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks but it must not compromise unless the mastermind of terror attacks is put to justice.

It is time Pakistan realises that the talks and terror do not go hand in hand. At a time when India is extending a friendly hand, Islamabad must not let the opportunity go off its hands and ensure its seriousness over tackling the common problem of terrorism.