NEW DELHI: The US announcement of a $10 million terror bounty on Mumbai attack accused Hafiz Saeed could test President Asif Ali Zardari’s Sunday meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi, analysts and reports said on Tuesday.
The US announcement was made here by visiting Under-Secretary of Political Affairs Wendy Sherman and it came virtually on the eve of the proposed daylong trip by Mr Zardari to a popular Sufi shrine in Ajmer. The religious visit will be preceded by a lunch hosted by Dr Singh.
Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram welcomed the announcement of the US bounty and said it might prod the government of Pakistan to take action against the extremist preacher.
However, the Indian Express quoted unnamed sources as saying that despite the strong language, New Delhi remained “determined” that the US notification on Saeed would “not cast a shadow” over the Pakistan president’s short visit here.
“He (Zardari) is coming on a private visit and it might not be the best occasion to raise this issue. But we will raise it at every other available platform,” Mr Chidambaram was quoted as saying.
Any pointed effort to avoid a discussion on the issue, however, would inevitably make the Indian prime minister vulnerable before the Bharatiya Janata Party-led rightwing hawks in parliament.
Mr Chidambaram was asked at a news conference if the issue might be raised with Pakistan’s head of state. He gave a tactful answer. “I don’t know what the prime minister will say to Zardari,” he said, adding India would continue to raise the issue on other occasions.
Mr Chidambaram pointed out that there was enough evidence to detain and interrogate Mr Saeed but “Pakistan government was not doing its duty”.
Indian Foreign Minister S. M. Krishna welcomed the US move announced by the visiting official, saying: “India welcomes this move to bring the perpetrators of Mumbai terror attacks to book. It sends a strong message to the Lashkar, its members and patrons that the international community is together in combating terrorism. This is a message to terrorists all over the world. I always insisted that he was the brain behind the terror attack in Mumbai.”
Mr Chidambaram was more relentless. “What this announcement will do is it will put pressure on Pakistan. I sincerely hope this will make them take action (against Saeed). Pakistan is in denial and continues to be in denial,” the minister said.
Local reports quoted official sources as saying India knew a week ago about the US move and was “hopeful and very optimistic that Saeed will be brought to book”.
Initial reaction to the Zardari visit had focused on scope to improve the visa regime and improvement of trade. Now the focus may shift back to terror. “Saeed is a free man there and often holds anti-India rallies,” one Indian commentary said. India has repeatedly sought his arrest, but Pakistan has each time sought “actionable” and “substantive” evidence against him before it could act.
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