NEW DELHI: India said Thursday it expects Islamabad to appeal a Pakistani court's decision to grant bail to the alleged mastermind of the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, calling the ruling "unfortunate".
Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi is accused of planning the 60-hour siege on India's economic capital that left 166 people dead and was blamed on the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the decision to grant bail was "very unfortunate".
"India has given enough evidence (against Lakhvi). We expect the Pakistan government to appeal at the earliest," he told journalists in Delhi.
The pace of prosecutions has been a major irritant in already strained relations between the two nuclear-armed rivals.
As well as Lakhvi, Pakistan has had another four Mumbai terror suspects in its custody since the attacks.
New Delhi has long said there is evidence that "official agencies" in Pakistan were involved in plotting the attack.
Islamabad denies the charge, but LeT's alleged charitable arm Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), seen as a front for the militant group, operates openly in the country.
Singh also defended his government's decision to express public solidarity with Pakistan after a deadly attack on a school in Peshawar.
"Our prime minister did whatever was right after the Peshawar attack," Singh told reporters on Thursday.
COMMENTS (10)
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"The blood of children hasn't died down in Peshawar, and an LeT commander responsible for Mumbai carnage walks free... Seriously, Pakistan?"
it is this sifting that has hurt Pakistan over time . Good Taliban and Bad Taliban, reads so ridiculous now after they did what they did in Peshawar. Here is another example of letting a terrorist go because he can attack India. What if he turns against Pakistan ? Many readers are right here. There can be no double standards when it come to terror. Also, I see little changing.
Very nice to hear pakistanis supporting India by condemning Lakhvi's bail. Thanks guys... we really appreciate it. Its time to end hostilities and work together for peace.
this decision has already been challenged by the federal government of Pakistan.
It will be challenged by government. It's already in press. Tides have turned in Pakistan, and the sentiments on the streets are different now. Terrorists and their apologists will find it hard to survive as common man is ready to fight for their children.
If there is sufficient evidence against this man then certainly the govt of Pakistan should appeal and he should be properly prosecuted and punished. The bail tells me that either there wasn't sufficient evidence, or evidence was not presented by prosecution, or that the prosecutor and the judge are too afraid of them. This case aside, there have been too many instances where terrorists were not properly prosecuted and the courts let them off. After killing army officers and the whole Lal Masjid episode playing in front of all Pakistan how can one explain the main culprit Abdul Aziz now roaming free and back to old tricks? All these politicians sitting in front of TV cameras talk endlessly about being tough on terrorism but actually do nothing against the known individuals. They should all be fired.
No hopes with our government or judiciary. I hope the Army puts a bullet into him where it hurts the most.
If we as Pakistanis have decided that there is to be zero tolerance for terror and terrorists, then we must also have the same yardstick for all forms of it. We cannot accept one and condone the other. I also urge our government to appeal against the bail of Lakhvi, no ifs and buts.
I don't believe this, I feel more sad that those little angles died in vain. Nothing is going to change.
Appeal makes sense .. better yet Sharif should have publicly ridiculed the judges who let these terrorist loose. Sharif needs to send a loud message that Pakistan is serious about terrorism - and nobody gets a free pass - terrorist, judges, or Taliban apologist!