US conveys to Pak 'concern' over Lakhvi's release

Secretary of State John Kerry has conveyed the Obama administration's concern over Zakiur Rahman Lakhvi's release to Pakistan when he spoke to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif earlier this week, the U.S. State Department said.

While addressing the press on Thursday, the department's spokesperson Marie Harf said that the conversation was focused on Lakhvi's release and the situation in Yemen, reported the Dawn.

The statement released by the department however, placed more emphasis on Lakhvi's release than on the situation in Yemen.

Harf said that Kerry "expressed concern that the perpetrators of the 2008 terrorist attacks be brought to justice" while noting that 160 innocent people, including American citizens were killed in the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

He also stressed on the need to keep the "terrorists behind the bar," said Harf and added that Sharif also assured Kerry about his commitment to "seek justice" for the victims of the attack.

While discussing the Yemen crisis, both the leaders agreed that the path forward had to be a dialogue, the spokeswoman said.