Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Pakistan released Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief and the mastermind of the 26/11 terror attack, Hafiz Saeed, from house arrest.

Gandhi wrote on Twitter that Modi’s “hugplomacy” with the United States has failed and more hugs were “urgently needed”.

The Pakistan government withdrew jail staff from Saeed’s residence in Lahore’s Johar Town area late on Thursday. Saeed is a United Nations and United States-designated terrorist. India had criticised Pakistan and said that it shows Islamabad’s lack of seriousness in bringing terrorists to justice. The United States on Friday had demanded that Pakistan arrest Hafiz Saeed and make sure he is arrested and charged for his crimes.

Pakistan justifies Hafiz Saeed’s release

Pakistan on Friday said that it condemned all forms of terrorism, and that it was committed to the implementation of the United Nations Security Council’s sanctions regime on terrorists, PTI reported.

Responding to India’s criticism, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said, “The [MEA] spokesperson took exception to self-serving insinuations.” Faisal said that the courts in Pakistan, pursuant to their constitutional duty, were determined to uphold the rule of law and due process for all citizens of Pakistan.

Legal processes followed the rule of law, he said, adding that it was not dictated by politics and posturing. “It is in the interest of all states to speak and act in a manner that is consistent with the imperatives of adhering to rule of law at the national and international levels,” Faisal said.

He also claimed that Pakistan’s “resolve, actions and successes in the fight against terrorism, terrorist violence and terrorists” were “unmatched” in the world. “Pakistan condemns and opposes all forms of terrorism by any individual or group,” Faisal added.