The man India holds responsible for engineering the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks that killed 166 people moves freely in Pakistan.

On Wednesday, Jamat- ud- Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed delivered a fiery speech as thousands of followers joined him at the famous Aabpara Chowk - situated just a few hundred yards from the ISI headquarters - and asked them to get ready as the " time has come to perform the final jihad against India to free Kashmir from Indian occupation". " Are you ready to help Kashmiri brothers and sisters? Would you join me for this noble cause?" Saeed asked the gathering.

JuD chief Hafiz Saeed with former ISI chief Hamid Gul at his rally in Islamabad. JuD chief Hafiz Saeed with former ISI chief Hamid Gul at his rally in Islamabad.

Thousands of his followers responded to their leader by assuring him that they were ready to fight India. "Kadam badhao Hafiz Saeed, hum tumhare sath hain (Lead the way Hafiz Saeed, we are with you," an energetic crowd of roughly 7,000 to 10,000 chanted.

On Wednesday, as Pakistan marked the 16th anniversary of the nuclear test, Saeed swept into the Capital city for a rally arranged by the JuD titled 'Takbeer Convention'. He was followed by former ISI director general Hamid Gul, Senator Talha Mehmood and former head of right wing political party Jamat-e-Islami.

Saeed, who drove-in in his bullet- proof jeep in a heavy security cover, was received with rose petals.

He criticised PM Nawaz Sharif for attending Indian PM Narendra Modi's swearing- in and said he (Sharif) betrayed the Kashmiris. " Mr Prime Minister, you have stabbed the Kashmiris at their back by shaking hand with Narendra Modi. Kashmiris would never forgive you," Saeed said.

He advised the Sharif government to refrain from indulging in a " love affair with India" as he believes it was useless. Sources told Mail Today that names of Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim came up during discussions between the two PMs on Tuesday.