The US has announced a $10 million bounty on Pakistan-based Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, a move welcomed today by India, which said it sends a strong signal to LeT and its "patrons" that the international community remains united in combating terrorism.
Late last night, the US Government announced an award of up to $10 million for information leading to arrest and conviction of Saeed and up to $2 million for Hafiz Adbul Rahman Makki, his jihar financier brother-in-law under the Rewards for Justice programme, for information on the two terrorists, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
"India welcomes the notification under the Rewards for Justice Programme. It reflects the commitment of India and the United States to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attack to justice and continuing efforts to combat terrorism," External Affairs Minister SM Krishna told reporters.
"It also sends a strong signal to LeT as also its members and patrons that the international community remains united in combating terrorism," he added.
Krishna asserted that Saeed, the brain behind the terror attack on Mumbai, was "safely tucked away" somewhere in Pakistan.
The US maintains both Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamaat ul Dawa as foreign terrorist organisations and has also individually designated Saeed and Makki for terrorist activities under its law.
Sixty-one-year-old Saeed has become one of only four terrorist leaders for whom the US has offered a bounty of $10 million, joining the likes of Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Omar.
The only person with a higher bounty on his head than these four terrorist leaders is Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al- Zawahiri, for whom the US has put a reward of $25 million.