People protest in Ranchi against Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed's recent derogatory remarks against India. People protest in Ranchi against Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed's recent derogatory remarks against India.

The cavalier manner with which the United Nations (UN) Security Council is treating the issue of sanctions against Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed - a designated global terrorist - has the Narendra Modi-led government seething.Top government sources insist the UN has not only failed to counter terrorism, but has also been unsuccessful in evolving an effective mechanism to check designated global terrorists despite an international hue and cry and sanctions against them.

On December 17, Security Council Committee Chair Gary Quinlan referred to the man accused of masterminding the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks as Hafiz Mohammad 'Sahib' in a letter.



Shocking letter

This was in response to provision of information about terrorist activities of persons who fall in the ambit of UN sanctions. Mail Today has accessed the United Nations Security Council letter No. S/AC/37/2014/OC 218 signed by Quinlan that exposes the UN's stance on Saeed.

Top government sources said: "This is preposterous. The sanctions committee is deferential to the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 166 innocent people from several countries, including the US and Israel. When they refer to Saeed as 'Sahib' it is indicative of the lack of seriousness that is attached to the biggest issue confronting us - terrorism."



A copy of the United Nations Security Council letter signed by chairperson Gary Quinlan accessed by MAIL TODAY. The missive exposes the UN's stance on 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed. A copy of the United Nations Security Council letter signed by chairperson Gary Quinlan accessed by MAIL TODAY. The missive exposes the UN's stance on 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

Sources added: "The letter written at a time when LeT modules are targeting India and Hafiz Saeed is spewing venom against India clearly shows the manner in which members of the UN Sanctions Committee is treating such a burning issue. Little wonder that the mechanism has not had the desired result."

India has made a strong case against the LeT and its founder Hafiz Saeed. In fact, intelligence agencies across Europe and the US are tracking his movements.

"Hafiz Saeed and LeT no longer pose a threat just to India. David Coleman Headley spilled the beans on LeT planning to target a newspaper and a cartoonist in Denmark and the fact that a reconnaissance mission had already been carried out is evidence of Pakistanbased terrorists spreading their tentacles across the globe. Yet the UN sanctions committee is not dealing with the issue with the seriousness it deserves," South Block sources said.

India has been disappointed by Pakistan's double standards in dealing with terror. Terrorists had massacred 148 people, including 133 children, in Peshawar. Pakistan's prime minister Nawaz Sharif pledged to go after the Taliban without differentiating between the Good and the bad Taliban. Both Islamabad and Rawalpindi have been silent on India-centric terror mushrooming in Pakistan.

India hopes the UN will take a more pro-active and effective approach to tackle terrorism emanating from Pakistan. The LeT changed its name to Jamatud-Dawa (JuD) and now operates under the name of Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation.

LeT, JuD and Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation are proscribed by the UN's terrorism sanction committee. "Given the deferential treatment to Hafiz Saeed, can we hope for effective measures? The sanctions committee chair has let the world down," sources added.

Little wonder that hours after the massacre in Peshawar, Hafiz Saeed was once again back on the streets giving the Tehreek-e-Taliban, Pakistan a clean chit for the worst terror attack in Peshawar and instead blaming India.