Click to play videoMumbai: He is the most wanted man after the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. Mohammad Hafiz Saeed, the chief of the banned Lashkar-e-Toiba, is believed to be the main conspirator of the 26/11 attacks and the motivator for young terrorists like Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab.
In December last year, after the Mumbai terror attacks, Saeed was put under house arrest. Many - including Indian National Security Advisor M K Narayanan - thought then that the house arrest was just for show and on Tuesday, even that show turned out to be a sham with the Lahore High Court setting Saeed free.
Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram however sought to calm the situation back home saying, "It's not a set back to India, but we are unhappy because it shows the level of Pakistan's seriousness on cracking down on terrorism."
Kasab in his confession had stated: Aamir Hafiz Saeed had visited them during the Daura-e-Sufa training. Saeed had made anti-India speeches to motivate the terror team and he had told them that every mujaheed must fight to free Kashmir.
According to the Mumbai Police, Saeed was also responsible for overseeing training camps in Muzzafarabad and other camp sites in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir as well as Pakistan. He is also alleged to have overseen the logistical support for 26/11 team.
His release will not affect the on going trial of Kasab, but the investigators of 26/11 peg a significant role on Saeed.
Special Public Prosecutor for 26/11, Ujwal Nikam says, "We have already applied to the court to issue a non-bailable warrant against Mohammad Hafiz Saeed."
The investigators of the Mumbai attacks are not really surprised by the judgement on Hafiz Saeed - so much so, that they were actually expecting his release sooner or later. Meanwhile, the authorities in India have collected as much evidence as possible to make their case against so water tight that his release does not make any difference to the trial.
New Delhi has taken up the issue of Hafiz being released strongly. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna took up the issue with acting US Ambassador Peter Burleigh and clearly told him this was unacceptable. He is also expected to make a pitch for increased US pressure on Pakistan with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton next month. Also the Foreign Secretary is likely to raise Pakistan's lack of sincerity with William Burns when he visits India next week.
According to the internal assessment by the Ministry of External Affairs, Saeed's release and Pakistan's rhetoric on Kashmir are to allay the domestic opinion which has been turning against the government due to Swat offensive. But Pakistan is denying these allegations saying there was not enough evidence against Hafiz Saeed.
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