New Delhi, Lahore: Pakistan's supreme court on Monday adjourned the hearing of petitions challenging the release of Laskhkar-e-Toiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed, but on technical grounds, since the government lawyer resigned.
However, in Delhi, Minister of External Affairs S M Krishna reacted by saying India's patience is being tested.
"India's patience is being tested. We have given what we can to Pakistan. What more does Pakistan want," said Krishna.
The case will resume once a new appointment is made. But this means Saeed, the man India says is the mastermind of 26/11 and numerous other terror attacks, continues to be a free man.
"He will continue as a free man. He can move about and do whatever he likes. He goes to the second biggest mosque in Lahore, and he will continue to do his duty," said A K Dogar, lawyer for Hafiz Saeed.
Technicalities apart, the court's adjournment sends a signal that Islamabad is not willing to go after the Lashkar chief. Just last week, Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute Saeed. Not true, said India, which believes that if Pakistan wants, it can go after Saeed and charge him under domestic laws.
However, government sources say India won't make Hafiz Saeed a single point issue, although they will keep up the pressure.
But the developments in Pakistan are likely to reduce any maneuverability the government may have on the dialogue process, especially since they are already in a corner.