Hafiz Saeed capture reward: India welcomes US move for capture of 26/11 attack mastermind

NEW DELHI: The US has announced a $10 million bounty on Pakistan-based Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, a move welcomed today by India, which said it sends a strong signal to LeT and its "patrons" that the international community remains united in combating terrorism.

"India welcomes the notification under the Rewards for Justice Programme. It reflects the commitment of India and the United States to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attack to justice and continuing efforts to combat terrorism.

"It also sends a strong signal to LeT as also its members and patrons that the international community remains united in combating terrorism," External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told reporters.

He also said Saeed, the brain behind the terror attack on Mumbai, was "safely tucked away" somewhere in Pakistan.

Late last night, the US Government announced an award of up to $10 million for information leading to arrest and conviction of Saeed and up to $two million for Hafiz Adbul Rahman Makki, his jihar financier brother-in-law under the Rewards for Justice programme, for information on the two terrorists, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The US government's intent was conveyed by visiting US under secretary of state for political affairs Wendy Sherman during her talks with National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon on Monday. Policy experts see this as an indication of the Obama administration's receptiveness to India's concerns.

The US government will also offer $3 million for the capture of Abdul Rahman Makki, another senior functionary of the Lashkar-e-Taiba that Saeed founded. During her talks with Menon, Sherman emphasised on the need for closer Indo-US collaboration for combating terrorism. The two discussed issues related to Af-Pak.

A security expert said the US action may put pressure on Saeed and the Pakistan government but may not be enough to prevent Islamabad from continuing to give him protection. Although there is an Interpol notice against Saaed, he has been roaming free in Pakistan and the Lahore high court found 'no evidence' against him or JuD.

Saeed founded the Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was held responsible for several terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere in India. It conducted the daring attack on the barracks in Red Fort. Following LeT's attack on Parliament on December 21, 2001, Washington forced Islamabad to detain Saeed, after India moved troops to the Pakistan border.

But Saeed was released within months though he was soon placed under 'house arrest' for a few more months. New Delhi accused Islamabad of not doing enough, as Saeed roamed free and continued with his anti-India rhetoric.

His LeT collected funds for 'jihad' against India and recruited youth for the purpose. Pakistan-occupied Kashmir continued to host terrorist training camps too.

The farce of Saeed's house arrest was re-enacted in 2006, after India blamed LeT for the Mumbai train bombings. Two years later, following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, India submitted a formal request to the Security Council to put Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Hafiz Muhammad Saeed in the UN list of organisations/individuals sponsoring terrorism.

The move hit Lashkar's foreign fund flow though its mother orgnisation, JUD, continues to flourish with over several hundred offices spread throughout Pakistan. It also runs seminaries where, the Indian security establishment believes, impressionable minds are indoctrinated.

JuD has contested India's claims by saying it runs charitable organisations, including orphanages and religious schools, while India has contended that these were fronts for JuD to promote terror and to secure funds.

Saeed was placed under house arrest in late 2009, after India accused him of being the mastermind of 26/11. However, the Lahore high court quashed all cases against Saeed and set him free. The court also declared JuD was not a banned organisation and could work freely in Pakistan.

During Monday's meeting, Menon also conveyed New Delhi's concerns over the proposed US sanctions against Iran, which has the potential to undermine India's energy security as it imports around 12% of its oil from that country. Sherman said the US agreed with New Delhi that dialogue was the best option to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.