India communicates to Pakistan its 'grave concerns' over Lakhvi's bail

Expressing grave concerns over the granting of bail to top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander and 26/11 accused Zaki Ur Rehman Lakhvi, India on Friday confirmed initiating dialogues with Pakistan through diplomatic channels, adding that this decision contradicts Islamabad's commitment to fight terror groups.

"We have forthwith communicated to Pakistan through diplomatic channels our strong concerns on this matter and the sentiments across the country that this will make a mockery of the Pakistan's commitment to fight terror groups without hesitation and without making distinctions," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told the media here.

"Despite repeated assurances, we have seen the prosecution and the investigation by the [Pakistani] authorities of the seven accused in the anti- terror court in Islamabad proceeding at glacial pace," he added.

Akbaruddin further stated that Lakhvi's release was yet another step in what was a stretched out case.

"The story of repeated postponements, adjournments and unavailability of concerned law officers or witnesses is well documented and does not require repetition," he added.

On Thursday, Pakistan's anti-terror court granted bail to Lakhvi. According to reports in The Dawn, Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency's prosecutor had disagreed with the bail plea, but the court released Lakhvi with surety bonds worth Pakistan Rs 5,00,000.

Lakhvi is one of the prime accused in the terror attacks that took place in Mumbai in 2008, in which 161 people were killed, with over 600 people injured. Indian security agencies also accuse him of overseeing the 2006 train bombings in Mumbai, which saw over 200 casualties.

Lakhvi's bail comes just days after the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacked the Army Public School in Peshawar, killing 141 people, including 132 students.