Analysis: Here’s Why Pakistan Finally Arrested Hafiz Saeed
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan — Pakistan's decision this week to finally detain the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks signals a broader shift in the country's treatment of extremists.
Placing Hafiz Saeed under house arrest was driven in part by President Donald Trump's arrival on the world stage as well as pressure from China, according to military insiders and experts.
"Recent indicators from our friends, the U.S. and China, are that he has to go," said a senior officer on the sidelines of a rare briefing held at the military's General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
This pronouncement came less than 24 hours after Monday's arrest of Saeed, an extremist who espouses "jihad," or holy war, with India.
The U.S. has a $10 million bounty on his head, and India accuses him of being the mastermind of the Mumbai attacks that left 166 dead, including several Americans.
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Update: Hafiz Saeed’s House Arrest: Is it the US or China that moved Pakistan to take action? (Rudroneel Ghosh, Times of India)
WNU Editor: Pakistan is denying that they put pressure on Pakistan to arrest this radical leader who promotes terrorism .... China denies putting pressure on Pakistan for Saeed’s arrest (The Hindu). But the Chinese did make a visit to Pakistan to discuss terrorism .... Did China ask Pakistan to detain Hafiz Saeed? Top Chinese official's visit raises speculation (Zee News). As to what influence the U.S. may be playing in these Pak decisions? In the past the U.S. ability to influence Pakistan's policies towards militants in its country was severely limited .... but what has changed is President Trump, and I know from my Pak friends that the prospect of the U.S. limiting visas to Pakistanis is sending a chill throughout that community.
1 comment:
Cracking down? No, not at first. We'll get the regular song and dance, but that all may change quickly with the US's new Admint.
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