Pakistan's former military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, accepted that Lashkar-e-Taiba is active in the Kashmir valley.
In a recent interview to the media, he also openly stated to an interview to the media that he is the biggest supporter of Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed and that he was always in favour of using LeT to “supress” the Indian Army
Saeed who is the mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai attacks was released from 10-month house arrest on November 24 and has ever since been rallying for a free Kashmir. Musharraf also answered “yes” on being asked if he likes Saeed. He also added that he has met the JuD leader.
Currently living in self-exile in Dubai since leaving Pakistan after being charged with treason, he accepted that LeT is involved in Kashmir. He went on to say that he is always in “ favour of action in Kashmir and he is railing against the fact that “India got them declared as terrorists by partnering with the United States.” Musharraf however denies LeT's involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Read more: Pak still reluctant to bring 26/11 perpetrators to justice
Musharraf feels that All Pakistan Muslim League forging alliances with Islamist groups by saying is need of the day. The former president had however banned LeT. He said that he didn't know much about Saeed back then and feels he should not have acted against the terror outfit.
When Saeed was under house arrest, Musharraf had asked the then Pakistan Prime Ministerto free him as JuD was a “very fine NGO” engaged in relief work.
US had warned Pakistan of repercussions if Saeed was not immediately arrested again. To which Musharraf says, “This is very offensive language and an insult to Pakistan’s sovereignty.”
The White House in a statement, said, "The United States strongly condemns the release of LeT leader Hafiz Saeed from house arrest in Pakistan and calls for his immediate re-arrest and prosecution."
"A clear international consensus exists regarding Saeed's culpability-he was designated by the United Nations under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008. The Department of the Treasury has designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and the United States, since 2012, has offered a $10 million reward for information that brings Saeed to justice," it read.
Saeed, accused of masterminding the 2008 attacks in Mumbai that killed 166 people, was released on November 24 after a Pakistan judicial body ordered his release from house arrest, rejecting a request from the government of Punjab to extend his detention by three months.
The decision to put Saeed under house arrest in January was seen as a response to actions by US President Donald Trump's White House against nations deemed linked to terrorism.
