US' Strong Retort After Pak PM's ‘No Case Against Hafiz Sahib’ Statement
Close X
Monday, December 23, 2024
ADVT 
International

US' Strong Retort After Pak PM's ‘No Case Against Hafiz Sahib’ Statement

IANS, 19 Jan, 2018 12:22 PM
    The United States has called for terrorist Hafiz Saeed's prosecution "to the fullest extent of the law", following Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's remark that no action could be taken against the UN-designated terrorist.
     
     
    Pakistani Prime Miniter Abbasi, during an interview to Geo TV on Tuesday, referred to Hafiz Saeed as 'sahib' or 'sir'.
     
     
    "There is no case against Hafiz Saeed sahib in Pakistan. Only when there is a case can there be action," the Pakistani prime minister said when asked why there was no action against the terrorist.
     
     
    Reacting strongly to the comments, US' State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said that the US believes that Hafiz Saeed must be prosecuted and they have told Pakistan as much.
     
     
    "We believe that he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. He is listed by the UNSC 1267, the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee for targeted sanctions due to his affiliation with Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is a designated foreign terror organisation," Ms Nauert told reporters at her daily news conference yesterday.
     
     
    "We have made our points and concerns to the Pakistani government very clear. We believe that this individual should be prosecuted," Ms Nauert said.
     
     
    Responding to a question, Ms Nauert said that the United States has "certainly seen" the reports about Pakistani Prime Minister Abbasi's comment on Hafiz Saeed. "We regard him as a terrorist, a part of a foreign terrorist organisation. He was the mastermind, we believe, of the 2008 Mumbai attacks which killed many people, including Americans as well," she said.
     
     
     
    Hafiz Saeed, the chief of the Jamaat-ud-Dawah or JuD, was released from house arrest in Pakistan in November. The United States has labelled JuD as the "terrorist front" for the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a group Hafiz Saeed founded in 1987. LeT was responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai terror attack that killed 166 people.
     
     
    Acknowledging that the US has had some challenging times with the government of Pakistan recently, Ms Nauert said the Trump Administration expects Pakistan to do a lot more to address terrorism issues. "That's something that we've been very clear about all along. You know the news that we had that came out a couple weeks ago about our decision to withhold some of the security funding for Pakistan," she said.
     
     
    Ms Nauert said that the entire administration is on the same page on the issue of US-Pakistan relationship.
     
     
    Early this month, the US suspended about $2 billion worth of security assistance to Pakistan accusing it of not doing enough in the fight against terrorism. In retaliation, Pakistan suspended military and intelligence co-operation with the United States.
     
     
    The US State Department yesterday said it has not received any formal information in this regard from Pakistan.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Nearly 13% Dip In Number Of Indians Visiting USA

    Nearly 13% Dip In Number Of Indians Visiting USA
    The number of Indians travelling to the United States dropped “significantly” in the first six months of 2017, with experts attributing the dip to important policy changes—especially at home.

    Nearly 13% Dip In Number Of Indians Visiting USA

    Trump Unveils 'America First National Strategy' With 'Leadership Role For India'

    Unveiling his "America First National Strategy," US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington will support a "leadership role" for India in the "broader" Indo-Pacific region.

    Trump Unveils 'America First National Strategy' With 'Leadership Role For India'

    Amtrak Train Derails In Washington State, 'Injuries And Casualties' Reported

    Amtrak Train Derails In Washington State, 'Injuries And Casualties' Reported
    The train derailed about 40 miles (64 kilometres) south of Seattle before 8 a.m. Monday, spilling at least one train car on to busy Interstate 5.

    Amtrak Train Derails In Washington State, 'Injuries And Casualties' Reported

    B.C. Elementary Teacher Suspended After Accidentally Displaying Porn In Class

    Image of female genitalia popped up on teacher's laptop and was projected to Grade 6/7 class during a lesson

    B.C. Elementary Teacher Suspended After Accidentally Displaying Porn In Class

    Indian-Origin Man Killed By Armed Robbers In Ohio In United States

    Indian-Origin Man Killed By Armed Robbers In Ohio In United States
    Karunakar Karengle, 53, was working last Monday at the Jiffy Convenience Mart on Camelot Drive when two men came in with a firearm around 10 pm, police said.

    Indian-Origin Man Killed By Armed Robbers In Ohio In United States

    It's Out! Prince Harry And Meghan Markle To Marry On May 19

    It's Out! Prince Harry And Meghan Markle To Marry On May 19
    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding will be held on May 19 next year, Kensington Palace announced on Friday.

    It's Out! Prince Harry And Meghan Markle To Marry On May 19