India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), too, lashed out at Pakistan for freeing Saeed.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard came down heavily on Pakistan government for freeing the notorious terrorist and the mastermind of Mumbai terror attack Hafiz Saeed.
“Ridiculous-Not only did Pakistan give refuge to Bin Laden, responsible for attacks against US on 9/11, Pakistan set free a terrorist who has a $10 million American bounty on his head. Saeed was the mastermind behind the Mumbai attack that killed hundreds, including 6 Americans,” tweeted the first American Samoan Hindu member of the US Congress.
Ridiculous-Not only did Pakistan give refuge to Bin Laden, responsible for attacks against US on 9/11, Pakistan set free a terrorist who has a $10 million American bounty on his head. Saeed was the mastermind behind the Mumbai attack that killed hundreds, including 6 Americans.
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) November 28, 2017
The Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) head, who has been detained for 10 months, was freed on November 24 on the completion of his 30-day house arrest.
The US government has already warned Pakistan of “repercussions” on US-Pak ties if Hafiz Saeed is not re-arrested.
But no more absurd than President Trump's tripling down on US support for Saudi Arabia, which continues to spread extreme Wahhabi Salafist ideology around the world, fueling terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda, all while paying lip service to ‘defeating terrorism’
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) November 28, 2017
The White House Press Secretary in a statement on Saturday said, “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.”
The US administration had criticized Pakistan for its “failure to prosecute or charge him” saying that it sends a “deeply troubling message about Pakistan’s commitment to combatting international terrorism.”
The US is concerned about the Pak administration’s decision as President Donald Trump expects Pakistan to take strong action against terrorism. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had reiterated Washington’s stance and asked Pakistan to prove its commitment to uproot terrorism by taking strict action against terrorist safe havens on its land during his visit last month.
But, Pakistan has justified the release of Saeed saying that due process was followed to free the mastermind of Mumbai terror attack.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), too, lashed out at Pakistan for freeing Saeed.
“It also appears to be an attempt by the Pakistani system to mainstream proscribed terrorists. Pakistan has not changed its policy of shielding and supporting non-state actors and its true face is visible for all to see,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said last week.