US State Department concerned about release of alleged Mumbai attack mastermind

The US State Department on Friday said it was "gravely" concerned about the release on bail in Pakistan of a man accused of plotting a 2008 militant assault in Mumbai that killed 166 people.

A Pakistani court has freed Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, his lawyer said earlier on Friday. State spokesman Jeff Rathke said US officials were considering what steps to take next.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had condemned the prospect of release for the LeT operations commander, while Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said that Lakhvi's release would be an "unfortunate and disappointing" development. "India wants talks with Pakistan but the present development (release of Lakhvi) is unfortunate and disappointing," he told reporters.

A Pakistani court on Thursday had suspended the Punjab government's detention order against LeT operations commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi under a public security act and ordered his immediate release.

Also Read: Freeing Lakhvi proves that 26/11 was state sponsored: Fadnavis