In a significant diplomatic move, India has formally requested the extradition of Hafiz Saeed, founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the alleged mastermind behind the infamous 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, from Pakistan. Saeed, who has been in a Pakistani jail since 2019 on multiple terror finance convictions, is associated with the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD).
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has sent an official extradition request, urging Pakistan to initiate the legal process for Hafiz Saeed’s extradition. Despite repeated demands from India for Saeed to face trial in connection with the Mumbai attacks, the absence of an extradition treaty between the two countries complicates the process.
The JuD, led by Hafiz Saeed, is believed to be the front organization for LeT, the group responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks that claimed 166 lives, including six Americans. While Saeed denies involvement in armed operations, he has faced arrests and releases over the past decade.
In April 2022, a Pakistani court sentenced Hafiz Saeed to 31 years in prison for terrorism financing. However, the exact duration of his incarceration remains unclear, given concurrent sentences and potential appeals.
Hafiz Saeed, listed as one of India’s most wanted terrorists, carries a $10 million bounty placed by the US for his alleged role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Meanwhile, a new political front organization associated with Saeed has entered the political arena in Pakistan, fielding candidates for the upcoming general elections on February 8. The group aims to transform the country into an Islamic welfare state.
