advertisement
In an act of open intimidation, mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack, Hafiz Saeed on Tuesday led a “Kashmir Caravan” from Lahore to Islamabad and vowed to march towards Jammu and Kashmir “till Kashmiris get freedom.”
The caravan left for Islamabad from Lahore’s Mall Road amid cheers from workers of Jamaat-ud-Dawah, Jamaat-e-Islami and other parties in Pakistan who welcomed the rally at the JuD headquarters.
Speaking at the start of the rally in Lahore, Saaed dared India and said that he will in third phase of his mega rally, march into the Indian side of Kashmir, and continue marching till “Kashmiris get freedom.”
At a time when the Indian side of the valley simmers in the wake of the Burhan Wani encounter, Saeed being allowed to make such statements will only add to the unrest in the valley.
A confirmed terrorist with $10 million bounty on his head and the most wanted man in India, Hafiz with the backing of Pakistani establishment, enjoys complete freedom to hold such rallies in Pakistan and spew venom against India in his speeches.
Tuesday’s “Kashmir Caravan” comes close on the heels of an interview to The Associated Press, where Saeed had accused the US of giving India a free hand to crush the anti-India protests in Kashmir.
In the interview Hafiz also warned the United States and India of increased violence and bloodshed in coming days claiming that the actions of the two nations will only lead to increased cases of terrorism in the coming days.
At a separate prayer meet in Lahore last week, the Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief also urged all muslims to unite to avenge the “killing” of Burhan Wani and help liberate Kashmir.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)