26/11 mastermind Lakhvi shadows India-Pakistan ties amid Yemen bonhomie

Amid the India-Pakistan bonhomie which was witnessed during the recent evacuation of their nationals in Yemen, the old ghost of Islamabad’s alleged indifference has surfaced again with New Delhi reacting sharply to the recent Lahore High Court order setting aside the detention of 26/11 accuseed Zakirur Rehman Lakhvi.

“Our concerns on this issue have been made known to the Government of Pakistan in the past. These shall be reiterated,” Syed Akbaruddin, the spokesperson of India’s external affairs ministry said.

“The fact is that known terrorists not being effectively prosecuted constitutes a real security threat for India and the world,” he said. “This also erodes the value of assurances repeatedly conveyed to us with regard to cross border terrorism,” underlined the spokesperson.

New Delhi’s reaction came hours after the Lahore high court suspended the detention of 55-year-old Lakhvi under Maintenance of Public Order Act after the government failed to present sensitive records against him in the court.

The judge ordered Lakhvi to submit two surety bonds worth Rs 1 million each for his release.

Pakistan’s prolonged prevarication over expediting justice to 26/11 perpetrators continue to cast a shadow over the prickly relations between India and Pakistan.

New Delhi’s sharp reminder to Islamabad over 26/11 justice came amidst a new spirit of cooperation that was seen in the efforts by India and Pakistan to evacuate each other’s nationals from the violence-torn Yemen.

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