U.S. "gravely concerned" about release of alleged Mumbai attack mastermind

The United States is "gravely concerned" about the release on bail of alleged mastermind of Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008, the State Department said Friday.

Pakistan on Friday released Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, who is a leader of Jamaat-ud-Dawa group and among the seven accused Pakistan has taken into custody after the attacks in India's Mumbai that killed 166 people and injured many others.

"We have communicated that concern to senior Pakistani officials over the course of many months, and as recently as yesterday," State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said at a press briefing, adding that the U.S. is considering taking further steps.

Pakistan has pledged its cooperation in bringing the perpetrators, financiers, and sponsors of the Mumbai terrorist attacks to justice, and the U.S. urges Pakistan to follow through on that commitment, Rathke said.

India expressed concerns about the release of what India described as the "principal accused" in the Mumbai attack.

"Our High Commissioner has registered our strong concerns with the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan at the release of a principal accused in the Mumbai terrorist attack of 2008," Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said in a statement.

Dismissing the Indian concerns, the Pakistani government said it respected the judicial process and was confident that it would serve the interest of justice. Endite