The White House said in a statement on Saturday that if Pakistan does not re-arrest the freed militant, Hafiz Saeed, Islamabad will face negative consequences, AP reported. 

According to AP, Saeed, who allegedly masterminded the Mumbai massacre of 2008 in which 166 people were killed, was under house arrest, but was freed on Friday following a three-judge panel in Pakistan ended his detention. 

The United States (US) has determined a reward of $10 million USD for any leads that would lead to Saeed’s arrest and says he has had a hand in the killing of hundreds of people, including US citizens. 

In a statement, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said US condemns Saeed’s release from house arrest and called for his immediate re-arrest, AP reported. 

“Saeed’s release, after Pakistan’s failure to prosecute or charge him, sends a deeply troubling message about Pakistan’s commitment to combating international terrorism and belies Pakistani claims that it will not provide sanctuary for terrorists on its soil,” she said.

Saeed is the founder of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, a militant group linked to the Mumbai attack which claimed the lives of 166 people in 2008. 

Jamaat-ud-Dawa is believed to be a front for the Lashkar-e-Taiba insurgent group which New Delhi says was behind the Mumbai massacre.

The White House said that if Pakistan does not re-arrest Saeed, it will negatively affect Washington-Islamabad ties and will damage Pakistan’s reputation in the world in terms of combatting international terrorism. 

“Saeed’s release, after Pakistan’s failure to prosecute or charge him, sends a deeply troubling message about Pakistan’s commitment to combating international terrorism and belies Pakistani claims that it will not provide sanctuary for terrorists on its soil,” said Sanders. 

Saeed was freed from house arrest only two days before the ninth anniversary of the Mumbai attack. 

Family member of the Mumbai attack victims and human rights groups sharply criticized Pakistan’s move to free Saeed.