It was evident that Pakistan was unwilling to comply with India's request for the extradition of Hafiz Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Following India's public demand, Islamabad promptly rejected it, citing the absence of a bilateral treaty between the two countries to address such matters. Despite this predictable response, the message conveyed by New Delhi holds significance. Pakistan's continued support for the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Hafiz Saeed, and other terrorist groups remains unchanged. The reports of Saeed's son, Talha, planning to contest the upcoming general election in February further validate India's claim that the mainstreaming of terrorist groups is a state policy in Pakistan. India had previously designated Talha as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 2022, as he serves as the LeT's second-in-command, overseeing its finances.
In 2022, a Pakistani court sentenced
Hafiz Saeed to 31 years in prison for his involvement in terror financing,
following a similar conviction in 2020 with a 15-year sentence. India perceives
these sentences as a result of pressure exerted by the Financial Action Task
Force and Western powers. The current extradition request also includes charges
of money laundering for terrorist purposes, highlighting the need for a
comprehensive and cohesive international strategy against designated terror
groups and their sponsors.
The LeT and its front,
Jamaat-ud-Dawah, have been banned by the US and the United Nations, but China's
support continues to shield Pakistan from sanctions imposed by a UN committee
focused on the principal perpetrators of the 26/11 attacks. Despite the challenges,
it remains crucial for India to persist in pressuring for action against
figures like Hafiz Saeed, who symbolize an ideology promoting hatred and
justifying terrorism—an ideology that must be defeated.
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