JuD chief Hafiz Saeed makes light of Kasab's confessions

Mumbai terror mastermind and outlawed JuD chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed does not give much credence to the confessions made by Ajmal Kasab in the ongoing 26/11 trial and claimed he had no hand in the terror attack.

Saeed, who is reportedly guarded by two policemen and moves around Lahore as a free man, said it is not fair to "base everything" on statements made by Kasab in custody, and blamed 'Indian propaganda' for the accusations against him.

Insisting that he had no connection to Lashkar-e-Toiba, Saeed said his charity had hundreds of offices across Pakistan. He laughed and asked: "They make me out to be the biggest and most evil terrorist. Do I look like one to you?"

Speaking to London-based The Independent newspaper, Saeed, one of India's most wanted terrorist, said: "He (Kasab) has been giving different stories... In court, he gave this statement. He has been saying so many things we do not know. Do you think that it is fair that you base everything on this man who is in custody?"

On India's charge that he was involved in the Mumbai attacks, Saeed said in a raised voice: "We are Pakistanis and our organisations work under the law of Pakistan. Even though we try to abide by Pakistani law, there have been such serious allegations that I was put under arrest. A lot of people who
live round my house were arrested.

"My movements were restricted. My freedom of speech was restricted. All these limits have been put on me because of the pressure of foreign governments. It isn't important that I happen to be a Pakistani citizen. I did not violate any Pakistani law. I am restricted only because India wants me to be restricted."

Recalling that a group named 'Deccan Mujahideen' had claimed  responsibility for the Mumbai attacks, Saeed said: "But within no time, India blamed Lashkar-e-Taiba and India did not even pay attention to the claim from the Deccan Mujahideen. This 'proof' was not accepted by the (Pakistani) court. They found there was no evidence for the claims against us... Soon after the Mumbai attacks, we called a press conference. We said we were not involved. We condemned this."

Putting forth his perspective of the situation in south Asia, Saeed said: "In order to understand, you have to realise the precise situation between India and Pakistan. There is a deep conflict. India has been trying to support the separatists in Balochistan.

There are so many insurgencies going on in India itself, dividing and separating the country.

Kashmir has been fighting for freedom".