India has begun tightening its grip on Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed, who is living off Pakistan’s crumbsThe NIA is preparing to serve summons to Hafiz Saeed through diplomatic channels in connection with the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
Published: August 22, 2026, 3:19 PM IST
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Will Pakistan extradite Hafiz Saeed? How NIA and MEA are tightening the noose on LeT chief (File)
The noose is tightening around Lashkar-e-Taiba chief and notorious terrorist Hafiz Muhammad SaeedIndia has intensified legal action against Saeed in connection with the 2025 Pahalgam terror attackFollowing the non-bailable warrant issued by a special court, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is now pursuing the process of serving Saeed a court summons in Lahore through diplomatic channelsAccording to government sources, the summons will be sent to Pakistan through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The NIA filed a supplementary chargesheet in July 2026, linking Hafiz Saeed to the conspiracy behind the Pahalgam attackThe agency named him individually and as the head of Lashkar-e-Taiba and The Resistance Front (TRF)The chargesheet accuses him of playing a role in conspiring and waging war against IndiaSubsequently, a special NIA court in Jammu issued a non-bailable warrant against Hafiz Saeed in JulyThe service of the summons is now considered a significant step in this directionIt aims to ensure that Saeed is given a formal opportunity to appear before the courtIf he fails to appear despite the summons and the prescribed legal process is completed, further action against him could be initiated.
Way to a hearing in absentia
India is preparing to pursue legal proceedings under new criminal laws in cases where the accused is outside the country and their arrest or extradition is impossibleSection 356 of the Indian Penal Code (BNSS) provides for an investigation, trial, or judgment in absentia against a proclaimed offender, subject to certain conditionsThe government is insistent that all necessary legal formalities be completed before initiating a trial in absentia against SaeedThe effort to serve the court summons in Lahore is part of this processThis will also provide India with an official record of having exhausted all available legal and diplomatic channels to afford the accused an opportunity to participate in the Indian judicial process.
Pressure may increase on Pakistan
The process of establishing a strong judicial record against Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed in the Pahalgam attack case could impact India-Pakistan relations and international forumsAccording to government sources, this move could strengthen India’s counterterrorism stance on international platforms, particularly in discussions related to terror financing and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)India has long accused Pakistan of not taking adequate action against terrorist leaders operating on its soilPakistan maintains that Hafiz Saeed is in custody following his conviction in terror financing casesDespite this, Indian agencies have consistently linked him to a wide range of terrorist conspiracies, including the Pahalgam attack.
According to government sources, the broader objective of the current process is to remove legal hurdles that could be exploited by terrorism suspects living abroad or evading judicial processIndia wants to ensure that every necessary legal step in the Pahalgam attack case is on record, from the service of summons against Hafiz Saeed to possible further actionThis could create grounds for proceeding with a trial in his absence under the BNSS if he fails to appear before the court.
