Hafiz Saeed's conviction.

THE verdict on the terror financing cases involving Jamaatud Dawa supremo Hafiz Saeed on Wednesday is a major development as this country tries to dismantle the active militant infrastructure.

Saeed was, of course, the driving force behind Lashkar-e-Taiba - before dissociating from it when it was banned to go on to establish JuD. Formed as the US-backed Afghan jihad was winding down in the late 1980s, the Kashmir-centric Lashkar became one of the most violent and well-organised militant groups in South Asia.

The lawyer of the veteran jihadi leader, who along with an aide was convicted by an antiterrorism court, says they will appeal the judgement in the Lahore High Court.

Saeed's counsel argues that his client was convicted for no other reason than due to FATF 'pressure' ahead of its upcoming meeting. Whether FATF was a consideration, it does appear that there is a growing realisation in the government and security establishment that nurturing or ignoring such violent actors was a dangerous policy, and that the time had come to put an end to their activities.

The fact is that using militant actors as tools of foreign policy is a failed strategy. This seems to be the understanding at the top in Islamabad.

While world powers, including those who are now asking Pakistan to 'do more', were at one time proponents of using religious militants against state or non-state opponents, today they have publicly ditched this strategy.

Moreover, using such proxies has brought nothing but problems for Pakistan, with the UN listing Hafiz Saeed as a terrorist.

Besides involvement in foreign theatres, and the ensuing opprobrium this has brought...