Vaidik and Hafiz Saeed met as private citizens: Pakistan

At the same time, Pakistan ruled out action against Saeed, blamed by India for masterminding the 2008 Mumbai attacks, saying there was no hard evidence that could be used to prosecute him.

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Vaidik and Hafiz Saeed met as private citizens: Pakistan
Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit.

Abdul Basit
Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit.

Pakistan on Friday said it was not aware of the meeting between Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and journalist Ved Pratap Vaidik, which was purely an encounter of "two private citizens".

At the same time, Pakistan ruled out action against Saeed, blamed by India for masterminding the 2008 Mumbai attacks, saying there was no "hard evidence" that could be used to prosecute him.

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Referring to the meeting between Vaidik and Saeed that has triggered a row in India's political circles, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit said: "This was a meeting between two private citizens. Our government was not aware of the meeting, nor was New Delhi."

Vaidik, a close aide of yoga guru Ramdev, has often travelled to Pakistan and his latest visit was to attend a conference as a member of an Indian delegation.