Hafiz Saeed detention: Islamabad says India involved in terror activities in Pakistan

In a sharp reaction to India’s demand for “credible crackdown” on Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, Pakistan said on Thursday India should look at its own “involvement” in fomenting militancy on Pakistani soil before pointing fingers at others.

In a sharp reaction to India’s demand for “credible crackdown” on Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, Pakistan said on Thursday India should look at its own “involvement” in fomenting militancy on Pakistani soil before pointing fingers at others.

Supporters of Hafiz Saeed shout slogans to condemn his arrest, during a rally in Peshawar, Pakistan. (AP Photo)

India had reacted cautiously to Saeed’s detention, saying only a “credible crackdown” on terror outfits, including Saeed’s, will prove Pakistan’s sincerity as such actions had been taken against the 26/11 mastermind in the past too.

Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakari, at his weekly briefing, was asked to comment on the Indian reaction to Pakistan’s action against Saeed.

Zakaria reacted by saying that India should look at its own role in militancy in Pakistan rather than pointing a finger at Islamabad.

“India itself has been involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan,” he said.

Saeed and four other Jamaat-ud Dawa leaders -- Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz -- were put under house arrest after an order was issued by Punjab pProvince’s interior ministry on Monday in pursuance to a directive from the federal interior ministry on January 27.

He said last year three boys had inadvertently crossed the border from Narowal area in Punjab and were still in an Indian jail, despite efforts to bring them back.

“We contacted the Indian government over the matter, but so far they have not responded,” he said.