Who is Hafiz Saeed?

New Delhi: Hafiz Saeed is one of the world's most-wanted terrorists. Six months ago, the United Nations accepted India's point-of view: that Saeed and his organization should be banned on the grounds that they are a front of the Lashkar-e-Toiba.

India believes that Saeed is responsible for both, the attack on its Parliament in 2001 and for 26/11.

Saeed has repeatedly denied these allegations, countering that the Jamaat Ud Dawa is a charity, running madrasas and hospitals. But in December, under international pressure, Pakistan placed him under house arrest.  

In June this year, the Lahore High Court ruled that this detention was illegal, and that there was no evidence to connect Saeed to the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. India reacted swiftly, expressing its disappointment.  Home minister P Chidambaram said Saeed's release was "atrocious". Chidambaram also reaffirmed that India has given Pakistan enough evidence to prove Saeed is the mastermind of the 26/11 attacks.

But Saeed's spiritual leadership has always ensured that he has a dedicated following inside Pakistan.  And so his government treads cautiously when it comes to accusing him formally of terrorism.