National Security Advisor Ajit Doval terms detention of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi as 'positive'

NEW DELHI: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval today termed as "positive" detention of Mumbai attack planner Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, whose bail from a court sparked an outrage in India.

"India has taken a firm stand on the issue of Lakhvi and Pakistan has also responded. It is a positive step as far as both nations are concerned," he told reporters here.

Doval, who had come to brief Home Minister Rajnath Singh about the developments in the neighbouring country, also said Pakistan is appealing in the higher court against the lower court order releasing Lakhvi on bail.

The order of detention against 54-year-old LeT operations commander was today handed over to Pakistan's Adiala Jail superintendent before Lakhvi's counsel could show his bail order.

Pakistan government detained him for three months under a preventive detention law - Maintenance of Public Order.

Lakhvi was granted bail a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif pledged to announce a "national plan" to tackle terrorism, saying "this entire region" should be rid of terrorism. Sharif's statement came after Taliban massacred 148 people, mostly schoolchildren, in Peshawar.