India has strongly conveyed its message to Pakistan on Lakhvi's bail: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India has strongly conveyed its sentiments to Pakistan over the bail granted to top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander and 26/11 accused Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, adding that this move by the neighbouring nation has come as a shock.

"India has strongly conveyed to Pakistan our sentiments. Bail to LeT commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi has come as a 'shock' to all those who believe in humanity the world over," he told the Lok Sabha.

Prime Minister Modi further said India's approach towards Pakistan on the issue will be in tune with the sentiments expressed by members.

Prime Minister Modi also said that India felt no less pain than Pakistan following the ghastly terror attack on a school in Peshawar this week.

"India is not less saddened than Pakistan by what happened in Peshawar, there are tears in the eyes of every Indian," he said.

Earlier in the day, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed initiating dialogue with Pakistan through diplomatic channels over the granting of bail to Lakhvi, 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," 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.

Lakhvi, who is among the seven persons charged with planning and helping carry out the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, was earlier on Thursday granted bail by Pakistan's anti-terror court.