The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Friday said that the government has requested the extradition of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed to face trial in the case.
Addressing a media briefing, Bagchi said that Saeed is wanted in numerous cases in India and also a UN-proscribed terrorist. “We have conveyed a request along with relevant supporting documents to the Government of Pakistan to extradite him to India to face trial in a particular case. We have been flagging the issue of activities that he's been wanted for. This is a recent request,” the MEA spokesperson was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
#WATCH | On extradition request to Pakistan to hand over 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi says, "The person in question is wanted in numerous cases in India. He is also a UN-proscribed terrorist. In this regard, we have conveyed a request along with… pic.twitter.com/L5K1EvmFdM
— ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2023
Hafiz Saeed was sentenced to 31 years in prison by a Pakistani court after being convicted in the case of terror financing in April 2022. However, the Mumbai terror attack mastermind continues to evade punishment for the 26/11 attacks.
India's request for extradition also coincides with a political front backed by the 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind will contest the Pakistan election. Hafiz Talha Saeed, the leader of the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group, and son of Hafiz Saeed will contest in the election.
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India has repeatedly asked Pakistan for the extradition of Hafiz Saeed so that he might face charges for the Mumbai terror attacks; but, the absence of an extradition treaty between the two nations makes things complicated.
Soon after the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, Saeed was listed at the UN 1267/1989 al-Qaida Sanctions Committee as an individual connected with the al-Qaida terrorist organisation. The United States reportedly announced a reward of USD 10 million for seeking information about Saed.