Former Pakistan National Security Adviser (NSA) Mahmud Ali Durrani on Monday said that 26/11 mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed "has no utility" and that Pakistan "should act against him." He also said the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks of 2008, which "was carried out by a terror group based in Pakistan," is a "classic trans-border terrorist event."
Former NSA Durrani made the claim while speaking at the 19th Asian Security Conference being held at the Institute of Defence and Studies and Analyses in New Delhi. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had also previously landed in trouble after he called Saeed a "serious threat to the society."
Pakistan had, for the "larger interest" of the nation, put Saeed and four members of JuD and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) — Malik Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid, Qazi Kashif Hussain and Abdullah Ubaid — under house arrest in Lahore on January 30 under the Anti-Terrorism Act for a period of 90 days. An official from the Punjab Home Department had told PTI that licenses of 44 weapons were cancelled as part of the Pakistan government's action against Saeed and his terror outfits. However, the 26/11 mastermind has challenged his detention in the Lahore High Court.
Saeed and four of his associates were also listed under the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The provision puts a suspected terrorist under observation making it mandatory for him to register his attendance with the local police daily. The country's Interior Ministry identified them as "active members of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Falah-i- Insaniyat (FIF)." It has also ordered the Counter Terrorism Department to "move and take necessary action" against them. They have also been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL), which prohibits them from leaving the country and places their assets under scrutiny.
#WATCH: Former Pakistan NSA Mahmud Ali Durrani says 26/11 attack was carried out by terror group based in Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/cBmzSFnbK2
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 6, 2017
Around 10 terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) entered Mumbai via sea and attacked several locations across the city — Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), Oberoi Trident, Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital and the Jewish community centre — killing at least 166 people and injuring over 300.
The attack that lasted for four days from November 26 to November 29 also claimed the lives of 18 security personnel and damaged property worth crores of rupees. Citizens were also held hostage at the Oberoi Trident and the Taj Mahal Palace as terrorists opened fire indiscriminately at CST, Leopold Cafe and other locations.
One of the terrorists, Ajmal Kasab, was captured alive from CST and then hanged four years later on November 21, 2012.
