Date:03/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120350330100.htm

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Pakistan told to act against LeT founder

Nirupama Subramanian

ISLAMABAD: New Delhi has asked Pakistan to take action against Hafiz Saeed, founder-leader of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, the group suspected of involvement in the Mumbai attacks.

Official sources said Mr. Saeed is one of three individuals in a list of 20 against whom India has demanded immediate action by the Pakistan government. The other two are the Mumbai underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, alleged to be living in Pakistan, and Jaish-e-Mohammed leader Maulana Masood Azhar, a Pakistan national wanted for the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines IC 814.

The Indian government, which handed over a list of 20 fugitives to the Pakistan Foreign Ministry on Monday, is believed to have asked Islamabad to “prioritise” action against these three. Indian officials here denied three names had been flagged for action by Pakistan. They said all names in the list were “equally” important.

Pakistan has denied that Ibrahim, wanted for his alleged role in the 1993 Mumbai bombings, and Maulana Masood Azhar live in the country.