I was just wondering if the timing of the US bounty on Hafiz Saeed has to do anything with the upcoming visit of Zardari to India?
Islamabad and Washington are at loggerheads on a number of things, Nato supply routes being top of them. Iran-Pakitsan gas pipeline is another stumbling block between the two countries. And while Pakistan is turning to Russia, Iran and India to bolster its regional position through mutual trade agreements, is it understandable that the US might be feeling a bit uncomfortable with Pakistan creating regional cushions and moving away from the US?
It goes without saying that the timing of the US move on Hafiz Saeed will have some negative impact on Zardari’s visit to New Delhi. Did the US deliberately try to make the trip less cordial and meaningful by kicking off Hafiz Saeed issue at this point of time?
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Wednesday it wanted concrete evidence to proceed legally against the founder of a militant group who has been hit with a $10 million US bounty.
Foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said Islamabad would rather be presented with evidence about Hafiz Saeed than have a public discussion on the matter.
“In a democratic country like Pakistan, where judiciary is independent, evidence against anyone must withstand judicial scrutiny,” the spokesman added in a statement.
The reward for Saeed, the founder of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, was announced by US Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman in India on Monday.
Saeed lives openly in Pakistan and has spent recent months making a number of high-profile appearances at demonstrations calling on the government not to reopen Nato supply lines to Afghanistan, which have been closed since November.
Saeed, earlier on Wednesday, said he was ready to face “any American court” to answer charges.
What happened to the other long thread on this issue from yesterday ?
Did it get too hot to handle for GupShup ?
Hafiz Saeed was all over Pakistani channels yesterday answering questions in person.
He said that he was acquitted by the courts after long trials and no charges were proved against him.
He reiterated that he was not involved in the Bombay incident.
He condemned the attacks and said that he had done so in the past also.
Why were the Pakistani judicial commission members that visited India last month not given access to Ajmal or allowed to question Indian investigators of the incident ?
What was the point of the visit ?
Proof what proof, if amreeka says it its proof, PEROID.. I thoght Pak govt. should know this by now.....
Present government is resisting drone attacks, resisting to open NATO supply route, it will resist this too if there is no proof. You are forgetting that this is elected government and answerable to its action to the people of Pakistan.
Present government is resisting drone attacks, resisting to open NATO supply route, it will resist this too if there is no proof. You are forgetting that this is elected government and answerable to its action to the people of Pakistan.
I agree but resistance is not enough plus money talks, When the price is right Shri hafiz will be found guilty and Shri Raymond innocent.. Thats how it works in Pak, it has nothing to do with ones guilt or innocence.
Don't quote Raymond example here. ISI who got him released. More over he was prisoner of Punjab government where Rana Sanaullah the Punjab's home miniter said that he was realesed after paying qasas money. Present fereal government was just waiting for the courts order.
Present government is resisting drone attacks, resisting to open NATO supply route, it will resist this too if there is no proof. You are forgetting that this is elected government and answerable to its action to the people of Pakistan.
They want to open NATO supplies, the process is being delayed by the opposition. Last night the prime minister has convinced opposition to attend the pcns meeting to sort out the matter.
Don't quote Raymond example here. ISI who got him released. More over he was prisoner of Punjab government where Rana Sanaullah the Punjab's home miniter said that he was realesed after paying qasas money. Present fereal government was just waiting for the courts order.
My question wasn't about Hafiz Saeed or Nato supplies, it was: by raising Hafiz Saeed issue at this particular point of time, does the US want to derail Zardari's India visit or not?
Present government is resisting drone attacks, resisting to open NATO supply route, it will resist this too if there is no proof. You are forgetting that this is elected government and answerable to its action to the people of Pakistan.
Don't quote Raymond example here. ISI who got him released. More over he was prisoner of Punjab government where Rana Sanaullah the Punjab's home miniter said that he was realesed after paying qasas money. Present fereal government was just waiting for the courts order.
so when there is resistance it is because of government, when they comply its because of ISI... I wonder who is Rahman Malik, part of govt or ISI....
My question wasn't about Hafiz Saeed or Nato supplies, it was: by raising Hafiz Saeed issue at this particular point of time, does the US want to derail Zardari's India visit or not?
US doesn't really need to derail, all they need is a bucket of $$$ and a phone call.
Mark Toner of the State Dept embarrassed by grilling of journalists.
(Would not want to have his job.)
Not included in this clip was reportedly a question about why US taxpayer dollars are being used for
bounty for somebody wanted by India. That too when there is no court-worthy evidence.
Apparentaly Mark Toner had the worst briefing ever as journalists threw at him very relevant questions. US says “It is our conviction that Hafiz Saeed was involved in Mumbai attacks” … and yet they don’t have proofs.
During the briefing, he replied to my question as well which I had asked in this thread day before yesterday:
The blame-game and point scoring has started. That’s all the US bounty was suppose to do just when the two countries were about to take another step towards normalising ties. Mark Toner acknowledged yesterday that the US had no concrete evidence against Hafiz Saeed, it still thought it prudent to set a bounty for the guy at this crucial time. Bravo
