By Koustubh Tol
On 30th January 2017, in a surprise move by the Pakistani Government, Hafiz Saeed was put under house arrest for a period of 90 days under the Fourth Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.
The controversial Muslim cleric gained international attention after he was accused of plotting the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack which killed 166 people including many foreigners.
While the Pakistani army backed the move saying, The detention was a policy decision taken in the national interest, opposition parties staged a walkout from parliament, accusing the PML-N government of reacting under pressure from the new US administration.
The recent move comes as a surprise especially after the fact that Pakistan never acted against Hafiz Saeed blaming insufficient evidence in the case. India, on the other hand, welcomed the recent move but, expressed its dissatisfaction by urging Pakistan to take severe actions if it wants to show its sincerity towards anti-terrorism. Though late, Pakistans recent action has surely sent positive waves across South Asia.
Hafiz Saeed: A burden for Pakistan?
[su_pullquote]Even after the announcement of United Nations designating Hafiz Saeed as a terrorist after his involvement in the deadly attacks, what appears most shocking is the high-profile public life he lives in Pakistan.[/su_pullquote]
Hafiz Saeed is the head of Jamaat-ud Dawah (JuD), a self-proclaimed Pakistani charitable organization. India, along with the US, has accused the JuD of being a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba(LeT), a banned terrorist organisation in South Asia. Mr. Saeed is accused of being the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Even after the announcement of United Nations designating Hafiz Saeed as a terrorist after his involvement in the deadly attacks, what appears most shocking is the high-profile public life he lives in Pakistan.
Blaming Pakistans inefficiency in acting against terrorist organizations, the United States joined hands with India in 2012 by announcing a $10 million bounty on Saeed. But that didnt change anything. Mr. Saeed is still believed to enjoy a huge public support in Pakistan and can be seen giving anti-India speeches in public.
Since Mr Modi became the Prime Minister of India, one of his most successful foreign strategies has been the improvement in relations with the United States. And with the Trump administration, that relationship, many believe, is expected to become even stronger. Fearing a further decline in its relations with the US, the Pakistani government sees Hafiz Saeed as a roadblock for its future. Acting against him may give Pakistan some brownie points. But its image can only improve if it acts aggressively against terrorist activities within its land.
Fearing a further decline in its relations with the US, the Pakistani government sees Hafiz Saeed as a roadblock for its future | Picture Courtesy – Circa NewsThe Trump-immigration factor
US President Donald Trump recently announced a temporary immigration ban on seven countries with Muslim majority populations. Though Pakistan was not on the list, the problem isnt over. White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus clarified that the ban wasnt a Muslim ban, but hinted at trouble for the country when he stated, You can point to other countries that have similar problems like Pakistan and others – perhaps we need to take it further.
Since the killings of Osama Bin Laden in 2011, bilateral relations between the US and Pakistan have declined rapidly. The situation has worsened after Pakistans growing relations with China. With better India-US relations, Pakistan must put tremendous amounts of efforts to improve its status quo.
Considering Trumps call for a war against what he calls radical Islamic terror, having people like Hafiz Saeed out in the street wouldnt go down well.
Though Pakistans move must be appreciated, only time will tell if Pakistan continues its crackdown on terrorist organizations. And if they do, Pakistan can certainly hope for better relations with India and the United States.