US warns Pakistan of consequences over release of Lakhvi

Apr 13 The United States has warned Pakistan that there may be consequences for freeing the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi. State Department spokesperson Jeff Rathke told a news briefing in Washington that the US is gravely concerned about the release of Lakhvi on bail. On Friday, the Lahore High Court set aside official orders to keep Lakhvi in prison and set him free. But, on Saturday, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam blamed India for the release, saying that New Delhi’s inordinate delay in providing evidence of Lakhvi’s involvement in the attack weakened the prosecution’s case. Jeff Rathke indicated that such explanations are not enough to satisfy the US administration.