India concerned over Hafiz Saeed's comments on Pathankot, asks Pakistan to stop his activities

Delhi: India on Thursday said that Hafiz Saeed was an internationally designated known terrorist and Pakistan should put a stop to his activities.

"Hafiz Saeed is an internationally designated known terrorist, it is for Pakistan to put a stop to his activities," MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

He added, "It should be a matter of great concern to everyone that people like Hafiz Saeed continue to enjoy freedom to indulge in their activities," as per ANI.

Swarup`s comments come after Saeed, chief of the banned Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD), publicly praised the attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot on January 2 that claimed the lives of seven Indian security personnel.

Saeed warned that more such attacks would be carried out in the future.

Swarup said that Saeed'd claims that his various front organisations were carrying out charitable work were 'not even a fig leaf'.

"In this context, I would also like to point out that in October, we had seen reports that the government of Pakistan had banned the coverage of some of these organisations, including the one to which Hafiz Saeed belongs, and that electronic coverage of their allies etc. would not be permitted," the spokesman said, as per IANS.

"But we have seen now Hafiz Saeed making statement after statement and his rallies are being covered, so individuals and organisations concerned need to take their actions," he added.

The UN declared JuD a terror organisation and also individually designated Saeed as a terrorist in December 2008. 

The US has already put 10 million dollar bounty on his head.

However, Saeed, who orchestrated the November, 2008, Mumbai terror attack in which 166 people were killed, roams around freely in Pakistan and continues to make anti-India remarks and speeches.

(With Agency inputs)