Hafiz Talha Saeed, the son of Hafiz Saeed, who was behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks, gave a bold speech at a rally in Lahore on Pakistan’s ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day.’ During his speech, Talha called for the release of his father from prison and promised to “liberate Kashmir from India at any cost,” as reported by news agencies.
The rally was part of Pakistan’s annual event to show support for Kashmir. Talha used this opportunity to express his strong opinions about Kashmir and India. He criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a “shaitan” (devil). “I want to warn PM Modi that Kashmir belongs to Muslims, and we will take it from you. It will soon be part of Pakistan,” Talha said.
Talha also defended Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the militant group founded by his father, which was responsible for the Mumbai attacks. Despite being labeled a terrorist organization by the United States and the United Nations, Talha dismissed these claims as “propaganda” meant to harm his father’s image.
He questioned why his father was in prison, asking the Pakistani government to reconsider its decision and release Hafiz Saeed. “Hafiz Saeed is not guilty; why is he suffering in jail?” he asked, calling for what he saw as a correction of an unfair situation.
The rally drew hundreds of supporters, who chanted slogans in favor of Hafiz Saeed and his group, Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD).
Hafiz Saeed has been linked to many terrorist activities, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which killed over 160 people. He has also been involved in funding terrorism and spreading anti-India messages. In 2012, the United States offered a $10 million reward for information leading to his capture, and both the US and the UN have imposed sanctions against him for his actions.
Currently, Hafiz Saeed is serving a 78-year prison sentence for terror-related crimes in Pakistan, with an additional 31-year sentence given in 2022. Despite these legal issues, Pakistan continues to provide a platform for extremist figures like Saeed and his followers.
