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| Suspected mastermind of Mumbai attacks freed on bail in Pakistan | Suspected mastermind of Mumbai attacks freed on bail in Pakistan |
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| The man accused of being the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people were killed has been released on bail by a court in Pakistan, threatening to further strain ties between Islamabad and Delhi. | The man accused of being the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people were killed has been released on bail by a court in Pakistan, threatening to further strain ties between Islamabad and Delhi. |
| India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, had condemned the prospect of bail for Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, but on Friday the suspect’s lawyer told Reuters: “Lakhvi has been released and he is out of the jail. I don’t know where he will go now.” A security official confirmed the release. | India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, had condemned the prospect of bail for Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, but on Friday the suspect’s lawyer told Reuters: “Lakhvi has been released and he is out of the jail. I don’t know where he will go now.” A security official confirmed the release. |
| Reaction in India has so far been muted. “India wants talks with Pakistan but the present development is unfortunate and very disappointing,” home minister Rajnath Singh told reporters. | |
| The two countries have fought three major wars since gaining their independence from Britain in 1947. Relations appeared set to improve last year after newly elected Indian prime minister Narendra Modi invited his counterpart to his inauguration but deteriorated rapidly amid fierce exchanges of artillery fire and clashes along the disputed border between the two South Asian states. | |
| A spokesman for India’s home ministry said Lakhvi’s release was disappointing: “[It is] an insult to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai attack. The global community should take serious note of Pakistan’s double-speak on terrorism,” the spokesman told Agence France-Presse. | A spokesman for India’s home ministry said Lakhvi’s release was disappointing: “[It is] an insult to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai attack. The global community should take serious note of Pakistan’s double-speak on terrorism,” the spokesman told Agence France-Presse. |
| India’s external affairs ministry said before the release that its concern about Lakhvi had been made clear to Pakistan. “The fact is that known terrorists not being effectively prosecuted constitutes a real security threat for India and the world,” a spokesman said. “This also erodes the value of assurances repeatedly conveyed to us with regard to cross-border terrorism.” | India’s external affairs ministry said before the release that its concern about Lakhvi had been made clear to Pakistan. “The fact is that known terrorists not being effectively prosecuted constitutes a real security threat for India and the world,” a spokesman said. “This also erodes the value of assurances repeatedly conveyed to us with regard to cross-border terrorism.” |
| India blamed the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba for the Mumbai attacks. Ten gunmen infiltrated the city by boat and spent three days spraying bullets and throwing grenades near city landmarks. | India blamed the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba for the Mumbai attacks. Ten gunmen infiltrated the city by boat and spent three days spraying bullets and throwing grenades near city landmarks. |
| Indian investigators said Lakhvi was the Lashkar-e-Taiba military chief. He was arrested in Pakistan in 2009 in connection with the attack. | Indian investigators said Lakhvi was the Lashkar-e-Taiba military chief. He was arrested in Pakistan in 2009 in connection with the attack. |
| Relations between India and Pakistan, which have fought three wars since independence in 1947, nosedived after the assault and have not fully recovered. A dispute over the Kashmir region periodically flares into violence. | Relations between India and Pakistan, which have fought three wars since independence in 1947, nosedived after the assault and have not fully recovered. A dispute over the Kashmir region periodically flares into violence. |
| Lakhvi was granted bail by an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on 18 December, two days after a militant attack on a high school in the city of Peshawar killed 132 children. The timing of the decision, while many were still in mourning for the Peshawar attack, forced the government to detain Lakhvi under “maintenance of public order” legislation. | Lakhvi was granted bail by an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on 18 December, two days after a militant attack on a high school in the city of Peshawar killed 132 children. The timing of the decision, while many were still in mourning for the Peshawar attack, forced the government to detain Lakhvi under “maintenance of public order” legislation. |
| His lawyer told Reuters that his client has been granted bail because of insufficient evidence. | His lawyer told Reuters that his client has been granted bail because of insufficient evidence. |