<p>After Pakistan's anti-terror court convicted UN-designated terrorist <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/wion-edit-why-hafiz-saeeds-conviction-is-an-eyewash-280481">Hafiz Saeed</a> in two terror-financing cases, a US State Department spokesman told newswire ANI that the US continues "to call for Hafiz Saeed to be held accountable for his involvement in the planning of numerous acts of terrorism, including 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 innocent people, including six Americans."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-court-convicts-2611-mastermind-hafiz-saeed-in-terror-financing-case-280268">Also Read:&nbsp;Pakistan court convicts 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed in terror financing case</a></p>

<p>A Pakistan court had sentenced the Mumbai attack mastermind to five years and three months in prison along with a fine Rs 150,000 on terror financing charges.</p>

<p><strong>Watch Video:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pak-court-convicts-2611-mastermind-hafiz-saeed-in-terror-financing-case-280324/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Earlier, Alice Wells, principal deputy assistant secretary of South and Central Asian affairs in a tweet had said that the conviction of Hafiz Saeed and his associate is an "important step forward", while adding that "both for holding LeT accountable for its crimes, and for Pakistan in meeting its international commitments to combat terrorist financing."</p>

<p>"And as Imran Khan has said, it is in the interest of Pakistan’s future that it not allow non-state actors to operate from its soil," Wells added.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/why-pakistans-heart-bleeds-for-hafiz-saeed-252370">Also Read:&nbsp;Why Pakistan’s heart bleeds for Hafiz Saeed?</a></p>

<p>Meanwhile, Indian officials expressed scepticism over the efficacy of the conviction of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-accords-vip-treatment-to-un-designated-global-terrorist-hafiz-saeed-279475">Hafiz Saeed</a> while asserting that it is a long-pending international obligation of Pakistan to end its support for terrorism and the efficacy of Saeed's sentencing remained to be seen.</p>

<p>Hafiz Saeed's conviction came just four days ahead of a meeting of global anti-terror watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Paris to review Pakistan's actions to contain terror groups in the country. Pakistan is currently placed under FATF's "grey list" for failing to curb terror financing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The decision has been made on the eve of FATF Plenary meeting, which has to be noted," the Indian official sources said.</p>


After Pakistan's anti-terror court convicted UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed in two terror-financing cases, a US State Department spokesman told newswire ANI that the US continues "to call for Hafiz Saeed to be held accountable for his involvement in the planning of numerous acts of terrorism, including 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 innocent people, including six Americans.

After Pakistan's anti-terror court convicted UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed in two terror-financing cases, a US State Department spokesman told newswire ANI that the US continues "to call for Hafiz Saeed to be held accountable for his involvement in the planning of numerous acts of terrorism, including 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 innocent people, including six Americans." Also Read: Pakistan court convicts 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed in terror financing case A Pakistan court had sentenced the Mumbai attack mastermind to five years and three months in prison along with a fine Rs 150,000 on terror financing charges. Watch Video: Earlier, Alice Wells, principal deputy assistant secretary of South and Central Asian affairs in a tweet had said that the conviction of Hafiz Saeed and his associate is an "important step forward", while adding that "both for holding LeT accountable for its crimes, and for Pakistan in meeting its international commitments to combat terrorist financing." "And as Imran Khan has said, it is in the interest of Pakistan’s future that it not allow non-state actors to operate from its soil," Wells added. Also Read: Why Pakistan’s heart bleeds for Hafiz Saeed? Meanwhile, Indian officials expressed scepticism over the efficacy of the conviction of Hafiz Saeed while asserting that it is a long-pending international obligation of Pakistan to end its support for terrorism and the efficacy of Saeed's sentencing remained to be seen. Hafiz Saeed's conviction came just four days ahead of a meeting of global anti-terror watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Paris to review Pakistan's actions to contain terror groups in the country. Pakistan is currently placed under FATF's "grey list" for failing to curb terror financing. "The decision has been made on the eve of FATF Plenary meeting, which has to be noted," the Indian official sources said.

Want Hafiz Saeed to be held accountable for involvement in Mumbai attacks: US

<p>India expressed its scepticism over the efficacy of the conviction of Hafiz Saeed by a Pakistani court, official sources said on Thursday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>An anti-terrorism court sentenced Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder to five-and-a-half years in jail each in two cases. A fine of Rs 15,000 was also imposed on him. However, the combined 11 years of jail term will run concurrently, which means the net sentencing will be only five and a half years.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-court-convicts-2611-mastermind-hafiz-saeed-in-terror-financing-case-280268">Pakistan court convicts 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed in terror financing case</a></strong></p>

<p>It is a long-pending international obligation of Pakistan to end its support for terrorism and the efficacy of Saeed's sentencing remained to be seen, Indian government sources said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-edit-why-hafiz-saeeds-conviction-is-a-sham-280380/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Saeed's, the mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai attacks, conviction came just four days ahead of a meeting of global anti-terror watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Paris to review Pakistan's actions to contain terror groups in the country.</p>

<p>Pakistan is currently placed under FATF's "grey list" for failing to curb terror financing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The decision has been made on the eve of FATF Plenary meeting, which has to be noted," the Indian official sources said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The sources also that the Indian government would keep an eye on whether Pakistan would take action against all other terrorist entities and individuals operating from its soil.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


India expressed its scepticism over the efficacy of the conviction of Hafiz Saeed by a Pakistani court, official sources said on Thursday. An anti-terrorism court sentenced Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder to five-and-a-half years in jail each in two cases.

India expressed its scepticism over the efficacy of the conviction of Hafiz Saeed by a Pakistani court, official sources said on Thursday. An anti-terrorism court sentenced Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder to five-and-a-half years in jail each in two cases. A fine of Rs 15,000 was also imposed on him. However, the combined 11 years of jail term will run concurrently, which means the net sentencing will be only five and a half years. Also read: Pakistan court convicts 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed in terror financing case It is a long-pending international obligation of Pakistan to end its support for terrorism and the efficacy of Saeed's sentencing remained to be seen, Indian government sources said. Watch: Saeed's, the mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai attacks, conviction came just four days ahead of a meeting of global anti-terror watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Paris to review Pakistan's actions to contain terror groups in the country. Pakistan is currently placed under FATF's "grey list" for failing to curb terror financing. "The decision has been made on the eve of FATF Plenary meeting, which has to be noted," the Indian official sources said. The sources also that the Indian government would keep an eye on whether Pakistan would take action against all other terrorist entities and individuals operating from its soil.

Efficacy of conviction remains to be seen: India on Hafiz Saeed conviction

<p>Pakistan&#39;s defence minister Khwaja Asif has said Lashkar e Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed posed a &quot;threat to the country&quot;&nbsp;and was arrested &quot;in the larger national interest&quot;, The Nation reported.</p>

<p>The statement comes days after Saeed, wanted by India for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, was listed by Pakistan under its anti-terrorism act.</p>

<p>Saeed&#39;s name was added under the fourth schedule of Pakistan&#39;s Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). According to the fourth schedule, the government may arrest or detain a person for a&nbsp;period not exceeding twelve months.</p>

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<h5>Saeed was also put&nbsp;under the exit control list by the provincial Punjab government, meaning he is prohibited from leaving Pakistan</h5>
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<p>He was also put&nbsp;under the exit control list by the provincial Punjab government, meaning that he is prohibited from leaving Pakistan.</p>

<p>Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday (February 19), defence minister Khwaja Asif also opposed the use of Islamic terrorism, blaming US President Donald Trump for whipping up Islamophobia by using the term.</p>

<p>He urged that terrorism was not linked to a particular religion as more than &quot;90 per cent&quot; of the people killed in terror attacks are Muslims.</p>

<p>&quot;Terrorists aren&rsquo;t Christians or Muslims or Buddhists or Hindus. They are terrorists, they are criminals,&rdquo; the minister said during the conference.</p>

<p>India for long has been demanding Pakistan to come down hard on Saeed for allegedly orchestrating the Mumbai attacks, which left 164 people dead and scores wounded.</p>

<p>But New Delhi repeatedly maintained that Islamabad has gone soft on Saeed.</p>

<p>However, things have changed in Pakistan in recent days, with international powers piling pressure on Islamabad to act against the alleged Mumbai attacks mastermind.</p>

<p>Saeed&#39;s house arrest has been expectedly welcomed by New Delhi, who called it a &quot;logical first step&quot; to thwart the &quot;twin menaces of terrorism and violent extremism&quot; in the region.</p>

<p>(WION)</p>

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Khwaja Asif added that Saeed was arrested 'in the larger national interest'

Pakistan's defence minister Khwaja Asif has said Lashkar e Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed posed a "threat to the country" and was arrested "in the larger national interest", The Nation reported. The statement comes days after Saeed, wanted by India for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, was listed by Pakistan under its anti-terrorism act. Saeed's name was added under the fourth schedule of Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). According to the fourth schedule, the government may arrest or detain a person for a period not exceeding twelve months. Saeed was also put under the exit control list by the provincial Punjab government, meaning he is prohibited from leaving Pakistan × He was also put under the exit control list by the provincial Punjab government, meaning that he is prohibited from leaving Pakistan. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday (February 19), defence minister Khwaja Asif also opposed the use of Islamic terrorism, blaming US President Donald Trump for whipping up Islamophobia by using the term. He urged that terrorism was not linked to a particular religion as more than "90 per cent" of the people killed in terror attacks are Muslims. "Terrorists aren’t Christians or Muslims or Buddhists or Hindus. They are terrorists, they are criminals,” the minister said during the conference. India for long has been demanding Pakistan to come down hard on Saeed for allegedly orchestrating the Mumbai attacks, which left 164 people dead and scores wounded. But New Delhi repeatedly maintained that Islamabad has gone soft on Saeed. However, things have changed in Pakistan in recent days, with international powers piling pressure on Islamabad to act against the alleged Mumbai attacks mastermind. Saeed's house arrest has been expectedly welcomed by New Delhi, who called it a "logical first step" to thwart the "twin menaces of terrorism and violent extremism" in the region. (WION)

Pakistan defence minister says LeT chief Hafiz Saeed posed 'threat to country'