US asks Pakistan to prosecute terrorists Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar

In a synymous stand to New Delhi, United States has asked Pakistan to prosecute UN-designated terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar, asserting that de-escalation of India-Pakistan tensions is contingent to Islamabad's seriousness against terrorist outfits. 

Alice Wells, US Acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia said that Pakistan needs to take action against those engaging in 'cross-border infiltration' saying, "I think what we would like to see are conditions whereby India and Pakistan can have a constructive conversation that leads to an improvement of relations between two nuclear powers." 

US representative said that Pakistan needs to ensure implementation of FATF action plan, which includes prosecution of terrorists who have perpetrated terror attacks on Indian soil, and safeguarded in Pakistan. She said, "And obviously, that is going to hinge off of counterterrorism, off of Pakistan's seriousness of effort in ensuring that groups don't take advant and eng in cross-border infiltration, that re are serious steps to implement Financial Action Task Force (FATF) action plan that Pakistan has committed to, and which includes prosecution of UN-designated terrorists."

READ| Four times Pakistan failed to convince FATF on terror funding

"So wher it's Hafiz Saeed who currently is in custody and under prosecution, but also leaders of Jaish-e-Mohammed, like Masood Azhar, who long have been able to exploit ir presence on Pakistani soil," she added.

Where are two terrorists? 

According to intel sources, Jaish-e-Mohammed chief had been secretly freed by Pakistan early in September, despite facing heat of FATF. According to Republic sources, Masood Azhar's last kwn location was Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur. His health, according to reports, has considerably improved however terrorist avoids giving sermons. On March 1, Foreign Minister of Pakistan Mehmood Qureshi had inadvertently admitted that Masood Azhar was in Pakistan but is 'unwell,' and even that Pakistani administration is in contact with UN-designated terrorist. 

READ| Pakistan pleads UNSC to allow $1000 as monthly expense for Hafiz Saeed

On Thursday, Pakistan had reached out to UN Security Council requesting him to allow globally designated terrorist, Hafiz Saeed, to access his frozen bank account to cover 'basic living expenses.' Pakistan in a letter to UN said that Hafiz Saeed needs funds to cover basic expenses for his 'family of four,' as a 'sole supporter' and its responsible for food, drink and clos expenses for his family members. Pakistan requested to give an allowance of 1,50,000 Pakistan rupees to terrorist per month.  On July 17, Republic TV had also accessed first visuals of Mumbai terror attack mastermind, Hafiz Saeed's arrest by Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department in Lahore, Pakistan, and VIP treatment given to terrorist.  

(With PTI inputs)