Hafiz Saeed arrested days before Pak PM Imran Khan's visit to US to revive sour ties between the two countries

In an attempt of a crackdown on terror, Pakistan authorities apprehended 26/11 mastermind and Jama'at-ud-Da'wah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, however raising conjecture considering  arrest comes days ahe of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to Washington with motive to refresh ties.

Khan will be visiting United States on July 20 for first time after taking charge as premier of Pakistan. Pakistan Prime Minister through his visit is hoping to revive relations between two countries that have been deteriorating since his got elected for office. 

Apart from Pakistan's intimacy with terror, ir closeness with China has also been a crucial cause of US-Pakistan strained ties. 

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In past, US President Donald Trump has sternly and publicly called out Pakistan's hand in terror funding rar than terror fighting, on multiple occasions. Back in vember, Trump engaging in a twitter brawl with Khan over Pakistan giving shelter to former Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Len. He proclaimed how United States refuses to pay billions to India’s neighbour as re is thing in return. Claiming Pakistan to be one of those countries who gave thing in return, even cited Osama bin Len and Afghanistan as an example.

Counterterrorism official Mohamm Shafiq said that US-designated terrorist was taken into custody in Punjab province on Wednesday while he was traveling from eastern city of Lahore to city of Gujranwala within country. He said Saeed appeared before a judge and was ordered held in jail until next hearing.

Earlier this month, debt-ridden Pakistan authorities h launched a crackdown on Hafiz Saeed, who reportedly has been living at his Jauhar Town residence in Lahore, and or terrorists owing to increasing international pressures to act against terrorist groups. Pakistan's Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (PCTD) h registered over 20 cases against Hafiz Saeed and his 12 aides on charges of "terror financing" in different cities of Punjab province.

Pakistan banned Saeed’s charities earlier this year and has previously detained him, along with several close aides. However, he has t been charged or put on trial so far, despite India providing categorically handing over a dossier to Pakistan over Saeed's role in terror attacks of Mumbai on August 21, 2009.

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US Department of Treasury has designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and US, since 2012, has offered a USD 10 million reward for information that brings Saeed to justice.

Pakistan came under scanner of  Financial Action Task Force, a money laundering and terror finance watchdog, which kept country under 'grey list' for failing to take action against terror activities on ir soil.

(With AP)