Don’t blame us for Hafiz Saeed, he was your darling a few years ago

In a strong response to the United States’ repeated criticism on the issue of terrorism, Pakistan has said that people like Hafiz Saeed, who masterminded the Mumbai terror attack, are a liability to the country and it needs time to get rid of them. Mincing no words at the Asia Society forum on Tuesday evening, Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said it was very easy to say that Islamabad was floating the Haqqani network as well as Hafiz Saeed and his former Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Asif added that Pakistan can’t be blamed for terrorists like Hafiz Saeed saying Washington considered such men as “darlings” until a few years ago.

“They are liabilities. I accept, they are liabilities but give us time to get rid of these liabilities because we don’t have assets to match these liabilities and you are increasing the them further,” the Associated Press of Pakistan quoted Asif as saying.

US President Donald Trump had last month criticised Pakistan for its support to terror groups, saying it receives billions in US aid but continues to harbour militants. “Don’t blame us for Haqqanis or don’t blame us for the Hafiz Saeeds. These were the people who were your darlings just 20 to 30 years back. They were being dined and wined in the White House and now you say go to hell Pakistanis because you are nurturing these people.”