United States has announced an award of up to $10 million for information leading to arrest and conviction of Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of 26/11 attacks on Mumbai and $2 million for Hafiz Adbul Rahman Makki, under its Rewards for Justice programme.
In her talks Monday, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman had conveyed to Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai the US’ decision on two terrorists.
“India welcomes the US notification under the Rewards for Justice Programme,” ministry of external affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said here.
“The foreign secretary expressed India’s sincere appreciation for the additional US step to target Hafiz Mohammad Sayeed and Abdul Rahman Makki as well as the LeT,” Akbaruddin said here Tuesday.
The US announcement “reflects the commitment of India and the US to bring perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attacks to justice and continuing efforts to combat terrorism,” Akbaruddin added.
“It also sends a strong signal to LeT as also its members and patrons that the international community remains united in combating terrorism,” the spokesperson said.
The American announcement of the reward for capture or information leading to Saeed’s capture came from US Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who conveyed the same to Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai Monday.
The US also announced a $3 million bounty on Saeed’s brother Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki.
Saeed, known in India for its virulent anti-India rhetoric and patronized by a section of the powerful military-dominated Pakistani establishment, has sharpened his tirade in recent months. India has been consistently pressing Pakistan to prosecute Saeed for his key role in the 26/11 terror carnage, but Pakistan has tender to shelter behind legal subterfuge, saying there is no evidence against him.
During the talks between Mathai and Sherman, the two sides sought to step up collaboration in dealing with terrorism emanating from India’s neighborhood.
“The two sides agree that all terrorist organizations, including LeT, should be defeated and have called for elimination of terrorist safe havens and infrastructure inside Pakistan and Afghanistan,” Akbaruddin said.
The talks between Mathai and Sherman have set the stage for the strategic dialogue between External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington June where terrorism and AfPak issues are expected to figure prominently.