The Asian Age

Saeed claims support of govt in Pak

- AGE CORRESPOND­ENT

Jamatud Dawa ( JUD) chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed — wanted by India for allegedly mastermind­ing the 26/ 11 — has said that the Pakistani government and the nation are behind him. “I think the government for taking a firms stand against the Indian and the US pressure to arrest and prosecute me. It is encouragin­g to see that the entire nation, including political and military leadership, are on the same page on my issue,” he said. In an interview with a television channel, Hafiz Saeed said that Pakistan was in a state of war, surrounded by armed enemies. “Pakistan is in a state of war surrounded by armed enemies from the east and the west who want to separate Balochista­n, have access to the Gawadar Port and deprive Pakistan of its nuclear arsenals,” the JUD chief said.

“Pakistan should take a firm stand on all issues of national importance and tell the Indians as wells as Americans in unequivoca­l terms that it will not take any decision against its national interest,” he added. Hafiz Saeed said Pakistan was facing a difficult situation at the moment and it was time that it should formulate a firm stance keeping in view its national interests, adding that Pakistan was an atomic power and should not adopt defensive posture on matters of its defence and security.

He stressed the government to settle its affairs with the US in a cautious manner because it was playing into Indians hands at the moment. Hafiz Saeed said the announceme­nt by the US regarding head money on him had acted as a catalyst to unite the nation.

He believed that the US attack on Afghanista­n after 9/ 11 was actually a declaratio­n of crusade against the Muslims and said the US military engagement­s across the word were directed against Muslims whether it was Iraq and Afghanista­n or Somalia and Sudan in the African continent. Hafiz Saeed said the US had conspired against the entire Muslim by staging the 9/ 11 drama.

On granting the MFN status to India, he said it was an attempt to cripple the country’s defence, economy and agricultur­e sector. “It is irony of fate that India was trying to sell cheap electricit­y to Pakistan which has been generated by stopping Pakistan’s waters,” he added. He opined that Pakistan would lose its case in the internatio­nal court of arbitratio­n about “illegal constructi­on of dams on rivers emanating from Kashmir” after purchasing electricit­y from India.

 ??  ?? Hafiz Saeed
Hafiz Saeed

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