US bounty should prod Pak to act on Saeed: Chidambaram

Addressing a press conference here,Chidambaram said when he had visited Pakistan he had handed over a complete dossier on Saeed,including compact discs containing the JuD chief’s anti-India speeches and sought his voice samples.

“We have consistently pressed for his arrest and interrogation. Pakistan was in denial mode,and I think continues to be in denial mode,” he said.

Chidambaram said the fact that the US had finally recognised that Saeed and his organisation LeT were involved in terrorist activities may prod Pakistan to take action against him.

To a question whether the issue would be raised during Zardari’s day-long visit to India on Sunday,the Home Minister said it might not be the best occasion to raise this issue as the Pakistan President would be here for religious purposes.

“I don’t know what the Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) will say to Zardari,” he said adding India would continue to raise the issue on other occasions.

Chidambaram pointed out that there was enough evidence to detain and interrogate Saeed but “Pakistan government was not doing its duty.”

US bounty on Saeed validates India’s concerns: Cong

Congress today said the US decision to announce a USD 10 million bounty on Pakistan-based Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed had validated concerns voiced by India that a large number of terror attacks on it are being masterminded by the JuD.

Party spokesman Manish Tewari said that the action showed that Washington has finally realised that the network of teror is seamless and required a holistic approach and “one cannot create one set of approach for the terror emanating from eastern borders of Pakistan and other from the western borders”.

India has hoped that the US move would prod Islamabad into taking action against the mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

Late last night,the US Government announced an award of up to USD 10 million for information leading to arrest and conviction of Saeed and up to USD two million for his deputy Adbul Rahman Makki under the ‘Rewards for Justice programme’,for information on the two terrorists.