New Delhi : India on Friday conveyed its “outrage” to Pakistan over a court order releasing Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, saying it goes against Islamabad’s “professed commitment to combat terrorism” and his release will “pose a threat that cannot be ignored”.
In a statement, the external affairs ministry spokesperson said: “India today conveyed its outrage to Pakistan at the release of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, one of the key accused in the Mumbai terror attacks.”
“This goes against Pakistan’s professed commitment to combat terrorism, including its recently stated policy of not differentiating amongst terrorists.
“If such a person, who is also a designated international terrorist by the United Nations, is released it will pose a threat that cannot be ignored,” the spokesperson said.
The government also summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit to register India’s protest.
Officiating foreign secretary Anil Wadhwa, who is secretary (East) in the ministry, summoned Basit to South Block in the afternoon and conveyed India’s outrage.
Wadhwa is officiating as the foreign secretary with S. Jaishankar travelling with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Islamabad High Court declared the Lashkar-e-Taiba commander’s detention as “illegal” and ordered his immediate release.
Speaking to reporters on the issue, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said all documents related to Lakhvi’s involvement in the Mumbai attack “have not been presented in Pakistani courts. Hence, the court has ordered his release”.
Rijiju said: “We want that the Pakistan government should take this matter seriously and take steps to ensure that he doesn’t come out of jail.”