India urgently calls for extradition of 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed, Pakistan yet to respond

India has formally requested the extradition of Hafiz Saeed, the alleged mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks, from Pakistan. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, confirmed the extradition plea, stating that Saeed is wanted in numerous cases in India and is also designated as a UN-proscribed terrorist.

"The person in question is wanted in numerous cases in India. He is also a UN-proscribed terrorist. In this regard, we have conveyed a request along with relevant supporting documents to the Government of Pakistan to extradite him to India to face trial in a particular case. We have been flagging the issue of activities that he's been wanted for. This is a recent request," said Bagchi during a press briefing.

This recent demand for Saeed's extradition comes on the heels of India's persistent efforts to bring the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder to justice. Hafiz Saeed, who was detained by Pakistani authorities in 2019 on charges of terror financing, has faced multiple convictions and sentences since 2020, though his current whereabouts remain undisclosed.

The urgency of India's extradition plea is underscored by the gravity of Saeed's alleged involvement in orchestrating the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which resulted in the tragic loss of 166 lives and left hundreds more injured. Despite repeated calls from India, Pakistani authorities have yet to formally charge Saeed for his role in the Mumbai attacks.

Earlier reports on December 28 revealed that India formally asked Pakistan to hand over Hafiz Saeed, citing his involvement in various terror attacks, including the infamous Mumbai assault. The demand for extradition, reported by Pakistani media outlet Geo News, has not received an immediate response from Indian officials.