26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed says Kashmir protests fuelled by LeT

New Delhi: Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed on Wednesday claimed at a rally in Pakistan that a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant was leading processions in Kashmir for Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, who was killed in an encounter in Srinagar. 

"Have you seen the pictures of procession when lakhs of Kashmiris came to the streets? Did you see a man who was being carried on shoulders by the crowd? Do you know the man who was leading the procession? He is an 'ameer' of Laskar-e-Taiba (LeT)," Hafiz Saeed said according to an India Today report.
He added that several people from Faisalabad had gone to Kashmir to ‘lay down’ their lives facing the Indian security forces.

Saeed, who masterminded the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, envisioned a Kashmir which would be part of Pakistan, and also said that, ‘the world will witness India splitting into pieces’ one day.

Saeed also expressed his anger over visa denial to a group of Pakistani doctors who wanted to visit Kashmir.

Indian security forces have been criticised for using excessive force against protesters in Kashmir, using pellet guns in an attempt to quell the unrest. After 47 deaths and many injuries due to pellet gun usage, the Indian government has constituted an expert team to study alternatives to the weapon. Meanwhile, even though the curfew in the Kashmir Valley has been lifted, stray protests continue.

However, India has squarely accused Pakistan of a hand in creating the unrest. Hafiz Saeed’s admission is clear proof of Pakistan’s role.