US calls for Hafiz Saeed to be held accountable for 26/11 Mumbai attack

Hafiz Saeed's conviction on terror financing is a step towards curtailing the operation of a terrorist group that threatens peace and stability in South Asia.

Washington: The US on Thursday called for Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed to be held accountable for his involvement in the planning of numerous acts of terrorism including 2008 Mumbai attacks.

"We continue 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 6 Americans," US State Department spokesperson told commenting on the Saeed's conviction in terror financing cases.

The spokesperson said Hafiz Saeed's conviction on terror financing is a step towards curtailing the operation of a terrorist group that threatens peace and stability in South Asia.

"We urge Pakistan to continue to take appropriate legal action against individuals who commit acts of terrorism, raise funds for, or advocate for terrorism," the official said.

On Wednesday, Alice Wells, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of US for South and Central Asian Affairs had termed the conviction of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed as an important step forward towards holding terrorist organization LeT accountable for its crimes.

"Today's conviction of Hafiz Saeed and his associate is an important step forward - both toward holding LeT accountable for its crimes and for #Pakistan in meeting its international commitments to combat terrorist financing," she tweeted.

"And as @ImranKhanPTI has said, it is in the interest of #Pakistan's future that it not allow non-state actors to operate from its soil," she said in another tweet.

An anti-terrorism court in Lahore, Pakistan on Wednesday sentenced Hafiz to five-and-a-half years in prison each in two terror financing cases.

Reportedly, he was slapped with a prison sentence of five-and-a-half years and a fine of Rs.15,000 in each case and the sentences of both cases will run concurrently.

(With Inputs From ANI)