New Delhi: India does not view the release order of Lashkar-e-Toiba chief Hafiz Saeed as a consequence of the recent decision of the US Congress to give preference to American efforts to fight terrorism in Afghanistan over India's battle against the outlawed group.

Asked if the US Congress's decision to delink financial aid to Pakistan from Islamabad's counter-terrorism measures against the Lashkar had facilitated the release of Saeed, also the leader of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said: "I do not agree with the assessment that there is a bit of softness by the US side on certain entities.

"If you have seen the statements emanating from the US administration in the past, I think it is very clear that we are on the same page as far as the fight against terrorism is concerned."

The US Congress last week cleared the National Defence Authorisation Act, 2018, essentially America's defence bill for the year, after dropping a proposal that required the country's defence secretary to certify that Pakistan had taken steps to disrupt the activities of the Lashkar and the Afghanistan-based Haqqani network.

Afghanistan being of greater concern to the US, American legislators agreed to prioritise the fight against the Haqqani network over the battle against the Lashkar, which is Kashmir-specific.

There is nothing new in the US modulating its position to suit its interests and this is not the first time a terrorist targeting India will walk free in Pakistan. Since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, Saeed, its suspected mastermind, himself has been detained and let off more than once and his arrests too have not affected his functioning in Pakistan.

Jadhav nod

India has accepted Islamabad's offer to facilitate a meeting of Kulbhushan Jadhav, the retired naval office on death row in Pakistan over charges of espionage and terrorism, with his wife, but maintained that this in no way absolved the neighbouring country of the violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and Human Rights by denying consular access to him for a year and a half.

In its response to Pakistan's offer, made a fortnight ago, India has conveyed to Islamabad that Jadhav's wife wanted his mother to accompany her to the proposed meeting.

"We have also sought sovereign guarantee from the Government of Pakistan to ensure the safety, security and well being of the wife and the mother of Jadhav and that they shall not be questioned, harassed or interrogated during their visit and stay in Pakistan," foreign ministry spokesperson Kumar said.

India also wants a diplomat from the mission in Islamabad to be allowed to accompany the two women throughout their visit, including the meeting with Jadhav.

If this is allowed, it will be the first time any member of the Indian mission will get to meet Jadhav.