'Pak buckling to Indian propaganda on terror'

Founder leader of militant group Lashkar-e-Tayiba Hafeez Muhammad Saeed was on Wednesday released from a prison after about two months in preventive detention following orders from Lahore High Court and he later accused Pakistan of buckling under Indian view on terrorism.

Saeed, who was arrested on August 28, was released in the early hours of Wednesday.

Speaking to the cadre of his organisation in Lahore after his release, Saeed, who heads self-proclaimed non-profit organisation Jamat-ud-Dawa, charged that India had always tried to 'damage Pakistan's reputation, regardless of JUD's existence.'

Referring to the contention of Pakistan government that increased activities of JUD could hurt the relations with neighbouring countries, Saeed said the reason for deteriorating relations between India and Pakistan was the 'constant allegation' of terrorism by India against Pakistan.

"It is regrettable that Pakistan government buckles in the face of Indian propaganda instead of vigorously countering it," a JUD press release in Islamabad quoted him as saying.

Saeed termed as 'baseless,' Pakistan government's contention that JUD was a negative factor in Islamabad's relations with its neighbour.

"If by neighbour, the government means India, then it is quite obvious that Pakistan's relations with India were never excellent in the past nor are they likely to be so in future," the press release said.

Lahore High Court Judge Justice Akhter Shabbir on Tuesday ordered Saeed's release rejecting Pakistan government's contention that his increased activities could hurt the neighbouring countries. His release takes place when India and Pakistan announced resumption of Foreign Secretary-level talks on November 14-15. The talks had been stalled since the Mumbai train blasts on July 11 when close to 200 people were killed.

Besides blaming Inter Services Intelligence's involvement in Mumbai train blasts on July 11, Mumbai police also pointed to LeT's hand behind the explosions. Saeed and JUD deny having links with LeT, which was banned by Pakistan in 2002. JUD has been proscribed by the United States.