Can’t jail Hafiz Saeed, says Pakistan High Commissioner

New Delhi: Pakistan’s high commissioner to India Abdul Basit on Friday made it clear his country was in no mood to address India’s concerns over 26/11 terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

“We don’t have any evidence against him, we cannot put him in jail just to please everyone,? he said while speaking to reporters.

Asked about journalist Ved Pratap Vaidik’s meeting with Saeed earlier this month, Mr Basit said that Pakistan  was unaware of it, adding, “It was a meeting between two private individuals.”

Asked if the ISI facilitated or was aware of the meeting, he reiterated his government had nothing to do with it.

Despite what the High Commissioner said, it is  believed that such an interaction couldn’t ha-ve taken place without the Pakistan authorities’ knowledge. Saeed carries a US bounty of $10 million on his head. Asked how Saeed manages to move freely in Pakistan, Mr Basit deflected it, saying Saeed was not a politician.

He also didn’t reply to a question whether Pakistan would grant Mr Vaidik a visa again, saying, “We are liberal about giving visas.”.

Asked about a meeting between foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan Mr Basit said, “We are in touch with each other and things are moving forward.”

Earlier this month, the Pakistan foreign ministry too had indicated that the foreign secretaries would be meeting soon. This had evoked a tepid response from the MEA amid indications that such a meeting is unlikely to happen at an early date.

The Pakistan envoy also said that PM Narednra Modi will be welcomed in Pakistan whenever he visits the country.