“We do not want any force to be used or any military operation for this. But the Indians are opting for the other alternative,” Hafez Saeed. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
“We do not want any force to be used or any military operation for this. But the Indians are opting for the other alternative,” Hafez Saeed told Reuters in a telephone interview on Friday.
Saeed LeT in the 1990s, the militant group which India blames for the rampage in Mumbai, where gunmen killed 166 people over three days. He denies any wrongdoing and links to militants.
He denied Indian press reports that he had been inciting action against the neighbouring country just before the recent outbreak of the worst violence in Kashmir since the nuclear-armed neighbours agreed a ceasefire nearly a decade ago.
In the third fatal attack in Kashmir this week, a Pakistani soldier was killed on Thursday by “unprovoked” Indian fire, a Pakistan Army spokesman said.
He was shot while manning a post in the Battal sector of Kashmir, which is split between the two sides by a heavily fortified border known as the Line of Control (LoC), the spokesman said.
Saeed accused India of trying to disrupt the peace process with Pakistan and dragging its feet on the long-standing issue of Kashmir.
“This is their usual practice. Betraying the international community and destabilising Pakistan,” said Saeed. “And that’s what they are doing this time.”
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since becoming independent from Britain in 1947, two of them over the Himalayan region of Kashmir.
Relations had shown signs of improving in the past year after souring again in 2008 after the Mumbai bloodshed.
Both governments have expressed anger over the latest Kashmir attacks even as senior officials sought to calm fears that right-wing groups could seize the opportunity to derail years of diplomatic rapprochement.
India has repeatedly called on Pakistan to bring Saeed to justice, an issue that has stood in the way of rebuilding relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours since the carnage in Mumbai.
India is furious that Pakistan has not detained Saeed sinceit handed over evidence against him to Islamabad. Washington has offered a reward of $10 million for information leading to Saeed’s capture.
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@Rex Minor Both sides, there are a number of persons who still remember the details of the tragedy of the partition and the reasons. They are of the view that the partition was made just to meet the wishes of some power greedy persons – they had no real concern with the happiness and other values of any particular section. The time has changed. Now, in the global economy, the inhabitants of all the countries in this sub-continent are more concerned for the happiness of their families and for that, peaceful living is the first condition and the only one condition. If peace is not there, they can not pay attention to better bringing up. If Pakistan and Bharat decide to get unified, the issue of Kashmir will disappear for ever, the shops of terror groups will shut down and other countries in this sub-continent may come forward and closer to save the money being spent on defense and border manning. To start with, they can increase cultural and social exchanges and adopt a single currency like EURO for both countries, they may introduce demilitarization of the internal borders, free trade and visa on arrival for short spells of time but with an oath to respect each other’s interests against every kind of invasion by any third one.
@Saki Naka: You have shot yourself in the foot, haven't you? Before you make any nationalist views and adopt those brainwashed ides imposed in madrassas you should first research your facts. Always look for independent facts and this one from BBC sums up the "war" you are talking of: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1735912.stm I am sure you will conclude that if it were to happen then Jinnah's creation will be history.
He is the Man, genuine and afraid only of Allah, the rest including Ministry of Religious Affairs are a mess if not a joke
@Dr. Dang: AAhmed was only being sarcastic
@Saki Naka.. You guys have been beaten hollow 4 times.and you still want more.Great. We will oblige you.Remember the 90,000 Paki prisoners taken by India.!!!!!.We returned them to you.By your own logic it was a mistake made by India. we should have butchered them.But then the difference between mad and the sane is Pakistan and India. Got it. But this time we will remember you.
Problem with Pakistanis is that they don't understand the difference between a Shaitan and a Darvsesh.
@AAhmed: Get your facts right you brainwashed man : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-PakistaniWarof_1971 & by the way this is not put up by india or indians..
@KVS: 1971 about 90, 000.
@vinod kumar gulati:
I think your idea is great and should be beneficial for Pakistan as well as India. There is nothing greater than peace. But allow me to ask, what about the vengence which Pakstan military has been training for and even acquired the loly pops to carry outa very historic 'revenge'. Do you want them to forget the oath that each military soldier has been subjected to since 1971 debacle. You realy mean it that they forget it for the sake of peace. The yanks did not forget it and are still droning people in case some child is still living to take revenge. You must come up with some recipe to overcome the istinct of revenge.
Rex Minor
You mean ugly like you...how can people like him are allowed to spread hate, who supports them ? strategic assets who are destroying our country,.
@Saki Naka "Last and final warning to Indians. We will not take prisoners this time."
what do u mean be little brief., last warning understood but not take prisoners what u mean by that..If i understood correctly this means your army is capable of killing entire Indian army so that u dont need to take prisioners back to pakistan i.e your earlier military leaders formula 10 pakistan army:1 Indian army...did u come from air such things happens only in film where hero will not die despite getting 10 bullets,it seems you are too filmy
@Saki Naka: The little i know of Islam tells me your religion does not teach you hate . Cool it look after the poor in your country and let us look after ours . In 2013 when both countries have nuclear weapons no one can win a war. And remember you are talking about a country that took 90000 of your countrymen as prisoners, protected them (given a free hand the Bengali's would have butchered them ) feed them for about a yr and returned them to you safe and sound . Hate has not got us anywhere in the last 65yrs may be it is time to give peace a chance.
Oh!!! I am so scared of Hafeez Saeed..I am trembling with fear!
@Saki Naka: That's right boy. You need to dominate first to take prisoners.
@Saki Naka: You are very funny comedian.
By keeping Hafiz Saeed free, Pakistan is putting itself to major loss. If he is so concerned about Kashmir, why does he not work for unifying both parts of Kashmir? Bharat wishes that Pakistan must take immediate action to control over this man otherwise the peace building process will be definitely derailed. During 1971, Pakistan got defeat in Bangla Desh and 13 years ago again, it could not win the Kargil War. Why should it permit again to such humiliation? If peace is maintained both sides, some development can take place otherwise the precious money will continue to go waste for military preparedness which is of no use ultimately.
@Saki Naka: remind us when you last took 'prisoners' ?
Isn't it ugly already? How uglier one wants to make it? And to what end?
By "could", he means "should".
Last and final warning to Indians. We will not take prisoners this time.
@Pessimist: Hand it over to India and that will be biggest CBM..:-)
This person is insane. Pakistan is on fire and he is threatening India for Kashmir. Better to protect what you have rather then threatening others.
Somebody please lock this man up and throw away the keys--
How come no words from Hafiz Saeed on bombings in Quetta, Swat and other places in Pakistan where more than 100 innocent people died? How come head of a so called charity organisation talks of predicting violence? On how many fronts Hafiz Saeed wants Pakistan to fight?
"Saeed accused India of trying to disrupt the peace process"
Says the terrorist who is on the UN terrorist watch-list and would absolutely do anything to destabilise the peace process (remember Mumbai attacks, 2008). The biggest fillip to peace in Pakistan and India would be when terrorists like him are hanged.
Saner elements in Pakistani establishment need to restrict this guy. Not for doing any favor India but to arrest the deadly escalation of religious violence in Pakistan. Mindset that executed yesterday's massacre is similar to Saeed's.
Hafeez can comment on the border skirmish, but has no concern over 350 people dead or injurred in the bomb blasts. That is a much more ugly situation. In anycase the mumbai murder suspect has no sympathy for mass killings and the daily tragedy in pakistan.
What has a person who runs a 'charitable organization' got to do with the situation in Kashmir. Is there a reason this person is free and not in jail?
the violence in Kashmir is seeded in the need for India to change it's internal narrative at this time. It works every time.
lol... oh my... looking forward to indian trolls' pants on fire show now... would be great fun... dont disappoint us indian trolls
I wonder if he represents Pakistani people or pakistani government!!!
And your dream will come true.
Smelling conspiracy to derail democracy.Need for restraints instead for puting oil on fire.
He is absolutely right.