Pakistan trying to hoodwink international community: MEA on Pakistan booking Hafiz Saeed for terror financing

New Delhi: Pakistan is trying to hoodwink the international community with its “cosmetic” steps against terror groups, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.

MEA’s statement came after a day after Pakistan lodged 23 cases on charges of terror financing and facilitation against Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

“Pakistan is trying to hoodwink the international community on taking action against terror groups. Let us not get fooled by cosmetic steps against terror groups by Pakistan,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told reporters.

Also Read: GDP Growth: Economic Survey Indicates Growth At 7%

He added that India wants a normal relationship in an environment free from terror and “not on the basis of half-hearted measures”. Pakistan is yet to react to statements made by MEA.

The Indian foreign ministry’s comments came amid reports that Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and 12 of his close aides will be arrested “very soon”.

“The counter-terrorism has booked the (13) leaders of JuD and other proscribed organisations on the charges of terror financing. As the FIRs have been registered the suspects will be arrested shortly,” Pakistan’s Punjab police spokesperson Niyab Haider Naqvi told news agency PTI.

Two banned LeT-linked charities, Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), were also targeted, the department said in a statement.

Pakistan’s move came days after the G20 declaration at the Osaka summit on June 28-29 gave primacy to the FATF’s “essential role” and called for the effective implementation of its standards.