NEW DELHI: On the day Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi was released, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a veiled message to Pakistan, saying no country should provide shelter to terrorists but should punish them.
India on Saturday asked Pakistan to file a fresh appeal against the release of Mumbai attacks mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.
“We gave evidence against Lakhvi to Pakistan. Pakistan didn’t present it to the court and that is why Lakhvi had been released,” MoS for home affairs Kiren Rijiju said.
“Pakistan should use all the evidence given by India against Lakhvi,” Rijiju added.
India on Friday had registered its strong concerns with Pakistan on the release of Lakhvi and said that it was a “most negative development” for bilateral ties.
In Paris, French President Francois Hollande told visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the release of Lakhvi on bail is “deeply shocking”.
Israel on Saturday said it is “surprised and disappointed” at the release of 26/11 terror attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and termed it a “setback for the international efforts in the war against terror in which India and Israel are close partners”.
Israeli ambassador Daniel Carmon in a statement said: “Israel is surprised and disappointed by the release of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the mastermind of the Mumbai attack in which as part of the horrific attack also Israeli nationals and a Jewish Center – the Nariman House – were targeted. This release is a setback for the international efforts in the war against terror in which India and Israel are close partners.”
Conveying its grave concern over the release of Mumbai terror attacks’ mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the US has asked Pakistan to follow through on its commitment to bring atacks’ perpetrators to justice.
“We are gravely concerned about the release on bail of alleged Mumbai attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi,” State department spokesperson Jeff Rathke told reporters Friday in response to a question.
The US has “communicated that concern to senior Pakistani officials over the course of many months, and as recently as yesterday,” he said, urging Islamabad to follow through on its commitment to bring the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks to justice.
