Pakistan government has recently withdrawn terror charges against Hafiz Saeed.
Who is Sayeed?
Hafiz Saeed, is the chief of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which is a frontal organisation for Lashkar-e-Toiba.
LeT has been designated a terror group by the UN Security Council since 2002.
Despite ample evidence detailing Saeed’s role in acts of terror against India, Pakistan has done little to curtail his activities.
He is said to wield immense clout over Pakistan’s deep state.
He is also believed to have masterminded the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
What is the case?
Pakistan’s Punjab provincial government had initially detained him in January under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
This action was to avoid sanctions by the UN’s ‘Financial Action Task Force’ (FATF) which was to review Pakistan.
It also came in the backdrop of immense US pressure.
Last week, terror charges against Sayeed were dropped.
His detention will however continue under the milder ‘Maintenance of Public Order’ Ordinance.
Notably, these developments come in the backdrop of US praise for Pakistan in securing the release of an American couple held hostage by the Haqquani Network since 2012.
How does the future look?
U.S. and Afghanistan have only just revived talks with Pakistan on reining in the Taliban.
Hence, Pakistan freeing Saeed will be seen as an open challenge to India, the U.S. and the international community.
If Saeed isn’t brought to justice, then all the international declarations on terrorism will carry little weight in future.
The next round of the FATF, which is due at the end of this month, must be used to send a tough message to Pakistan.
