Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed has given a 'fatwa' that militant activities within Pakistan cannot be considered a part of 'jihad' and asked terrorists to desist from carrying out attacks in the country.
"Militant activities in Pakistan do not fall in the category of jihad. I appeal to all jihadi organisations not to carry out attacks inside Pakistan as it is not jihad (holy war). America and India are taking benefit from their activities," Saeed alleged in a statement.
Saeed, the 2008 Mumbai attacks mastermind who heads the Jamaat-ud-Dawah, issued the statement after the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Balochistan Liberation Army carried out attacks in the southwestern province of Balochistan.
On Saturday, the BLA attacked and destroyed the Quaid-e-Azam Residency in Ziarat, a historic building where Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah had spent his last days.
A policeman was killed in the attack.
Hours after that incident, LeJ militants blew up a women's university bus and stormed a hospital in Quetta, killing 25 people, including 14 women students and four nurses.
Saaed claimed the US, India and the West were hatching a conspiracy against Pakistan.
"They want infighting among different schools of thought to achieve their vested interest," Saeed claimed.
He alleged efforts were being made to pitch other groups against the JuD.
He said: "Our strength is in unity and not in infighting among us. However, Muslims will have to continue jihad to maintain their freedom".
