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| India-Pakistan |
| Saeed under 'house arrest', was Pak army's iftar guest |
| 2009-09-21 |
| Two FIRs against Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed and "restrictions" on his movements may not be more than eyewash. The 26/11 mastermind remains a valuable "asset" for Pakistan's military establishment and was an esteemed guest at an iftar hosted by the army's 10th corps. The JuD boss, who is also the head of the terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, is understood to have been present at the iftar held on September 12. The 10th corps is headquartered in Rawalpindi and is seen to be responsible for the Kashmir sector with a role in pushing infiltrators across the Line of Control into J&K. The LeT is a major recruiter of jihadis sent into J&K. Official sources said the reports about Saeed's presence at the iftar only indicated how far the Pakistani authorities were from taking action against the man whom India has accused of planning the attacks on Mumbai. The JuD chief is seen to be virtually a part of the military-ISI set up and his views can even count in army postings in the sectors that face J&K. That the attention focused on Saeed and his LeT, who have been tagged by the UN for their use of terrorism, could not deter military brass from hosting him, is a testimony to his links with the Pakistani establishment. On Monday, the Lahore police said Saeed had been confined to his residence on security grounds and was banned from leading Eid prayers. Police have since affirmed that the move was prompted by concern for the JuD chief's security, and was meant to thwart any "incident" - shorthand for an attack on him. "We are ensuring his security in view of terrorist threats," an agency quoted Lahore SSP Sohail Sukhera as saying. The action follows FIRs lodged against Saeed for speeches in Faisalabad on August 27 and 28 glorifying "jihad" and are not linked to the Mumbai case. In one speech, he accused India of staging the terror attacks and labelling him a terrorist. Like the reluctance of Pakistan to book Saeed for 26/11, the so-called house arrests seem nothing more than token measures. The hob-nobbing of Saeed and elements of the military despite an Interpol Red Corner notice against him besides evidence that India has given to Pakistan of his role in planning and motivating the LeT squad that hit Mumbai, only points to his having a free run. "He is practically the creation of Pakistani agencies, he is one of them," said sources. The 10th corps iftar took place just five days before the FIRs were filed. Saeed had been briefly placed under house arrest in December last year after the JuD was declared a terrorist organisation by the UN Security Council. He was subsequently freed on the orders of the Lahore High Court in June. Later on India's request, the Interpol had issued an RCN against him. The FIRs have come ahead of a meeting between Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York next week. Saeed has blamed former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf for a U-turn on the jihad in Afghanistan and despite the pressure on Pakistan from the US not to allow a high-profile attack in India, agencies point to a continued terror threat. |
| Posted by:john frum |