Pakistan Frees Man Behind 2008 Mumbai Attacks

The government of Pakistan has released the mastermind behind the devastating 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, India.

The New York Times reports that Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi was set free on bail after a ruling by Pakistan's highest court. A court previously ruled that Lakhvi should have been released, by the Pakistani government prevented his release by invoking a law that was put on the books when Pakistan was an English colony.

It seems as though Lakhvi was freed because the Pakistani military, which views India as its largest threat, does not want to prosecute Lakhvi or the group to which he belonged. It has previously been alleged that Pakistan's intelligence agency helped the group carry out the attack that left 164 people dead.

The Indian government responded quickly and strongly to the release. A government spokesman for India's foreign ministry said that the release proved that Pakistan only wants to imprison terrorists who attack in Pakistan, and not those who use Pakistan as a base for attacks in India or Afghanistan.

Pakistan's foreign affairs minister shot back by saying that because Pakistan is fighting terrorists inside its borders, no one should question Pakistan's commitment to fighting terrorism.

The Times notes that these counter-terrorism efforts seem to have only affected groups that attack Pakistani institutions. Groups that have attacked India and Indian interests abroad have not been targeted by security agencies.

Lakhvi's release is sure to inflame tensions between the two regional rivals, who have fought a number of wars against each other. It may also cause more violence on the contested border both country's share in the Himalayan region of Kashmir.