‘Hand over Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim to India’…, public outrage in Pakistan as people question govt over sheltering terrorists

The people also pointed that Pakistan’s relations are strained not just with India but also with Afghanistan, Iran, and even China on several issues.

A top commander of the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Nadeem, also known as Abu Qatal Sindhi, was shot dead in Pakistan’s Jhelum area on Saturday evening. Abu Qatal, a trusted aide of Lashkar founder and 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, was reportedly responsible for orchestrating multiple attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. There are also unconfirmed reports that Hafiz Saeed himself was targeted in an attack by unidentified gunmen.

Pakistani YouTuber Suhaib Chaudhary spoke to several people about the incident. One of them, a man named Dilshad, shared his views, saying, “India and Pakistan have been at odds for a long time over figures like Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim. It’s hard to understand why Pakistan continues to shelter such individuals. If Hafiz Saeed has survived this attack, he should be handed over to India along with Dawood because they are responsible for crimes against that country.”

While speaking to Suhaib about claims that India and RAW were behind the attack on Hafiz Saeed, several Pakistanis expressed their frustration. They questioned why Pakistan should even concern itself with figures like Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim. “If they are responsible for taking innocent lives in another country, they should be punished,” they said. Both Saeed and Dawood are accused of orchestrating bomb blasts, and justice should be served. They urged Pakistan to understand that maintaining good relations with neighboring countries is more beneficial than fostering enmity, as nothing is gained from hostility.

Many Pakistanis admitted that while India has made significant progress, Pakistan has lagged behind. “India is engaging with the world on technology and science, while we remain focused on seeking financial aid from other countries,” one person pointed out. They criticized the Pakistani government for constantly depending on the IMF, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S. for assistance instead of working towards self-reliance.

Pakistan should mend global relations

The people also pointed that Pakistan’s relations are strained not just with India but also with Afghanistan, Iran, and even China on several issues. In contrast, India has built strong diplomatic ties with global powers like the U.S., Israel, Russia, and France, while continuing its trade relations with China. They emphasized that Pakistan needs to learn from India’s approach and focus on strengthening its global standing.