KOLKATA: US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday confirmed that the US has announced a bounty for terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba's founder and Jamat-ud-Dawa's chief Hafiz Saeed.
"I authorised award for Hafiz Saeed who was responsible for attacks in Mumbai. It may take longer than we like but we will stand with you and trying to make that happen. India and US are greatest rebukes to religious discrimination," said Hillary in Kolkata on Monday.
Hafiz Saeed is believed to have been closely involved in planning and launching the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008.
Hillary's confirmation of the bounty for Saeed assumes significance because the US Ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter, had April 29 claimed that the US government never made such an offer. Munter argued that the Pakistani media had misreported the issue.
"Pakistani media is very active and responsible but it misreported the issue of Hafiz Saeed. Though Hafiz Saeed is a suspected accused of the Mumbai terror attacks, the US government didn't place any bounty/head money for him," Munter was quoted by the Dawn newspaper as saying.
Earlier, in the first week of April, US's Rewards for Justice website announced that information leading to the arrest or conviction of Saeed, 61, shall be rewarded with up to $10 million.
At an interaction with students and citizens at a Kolkata school Hillary also said that the bilateral ties between India and the US were most important.