India seeks 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed's extradition from Pakistan
India has formally asked Pakistan to extradite Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi revealed. The 73-year-old orchestrated several terrorist attacks on Indian soil, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He is a proscribed terrorist by the United Nations (UN), Bagchi said. India has sent an official request, along with certain documents, to Pakistan for his extradition.
Why does this story matter?
The request to extradite Saeed comes at a time when Pakistan is not only battling a grave economic crisis but also the tag of "terror haven," which is preventing it from receiving any major international aid. India's move could prove to be a masterstroke, putting enough pressure on Pakistan to extradite Saeed in an ostensible attempt to force it to disassociate itself from terrorism.
Watch: MEA spokesperson talks about Saeed's extradition
Bagchi's statement on Saeed's extradition
"The person in question is wanted in numerous cases in India. He is also a UN-proscribed terrorist. We have conveyed a request along with relevant supporting documents to the [Pakistan Government] to extradite him to India to face trial in a particular case," Bagchi said.
Saeed sentenced to over 3 decades in prison
In April 2022, Saeed received a 33-year jail sentence from a Pakistan court following convictions in two terror financing-related cases. Both cases were filed by the country's Counter-Terrorism Department. Despite this, the Pakistani terrorist has managed to avoid punishment for his alleged role in the 26/11 terror attacks. Efforts to apprehend him persist as authorities work to bring him to justice.
Saeed spotted roaming freely across Pakistan
Saeed has been awarded prison terms for terror financing several times in the past, including in 2020, when he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. However, he has been evading arrest and roaming freely across Pakistan as the head of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD). While Saeed and his supporters tout the JuD as a charitable organization, it is known to be an LeT front.
Saeed's son to contest for Pakistan General Assembly
Meanwhile, a political party founded by Saeed recently fielded candidates for the Pakistan general elections scheduled to be held on February 8. The Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) party said that it wanted to make the country an Islamic welfare state. Notably, Hafiz Saeed's son Talha Saeed—regarded second-in-command in LeT—is set to contest from a Lahore constituency.
