WASHINGTON, Nov 1: The United States has declined Hafiz Saeed’s offer to help it deal with the aftermath of hurricane Sandy, terming it a “very hollow” gesture.

Hafiz Saeed, who leads the banned Jamaatud-Dawa party, made the offer in Lahore on Tuesday, saying that Islam’s teaching required him to do so even if the Americans were unlikely to accept it.

“Mr Saeed is believed to be behind organising the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack, in which 166 people were killed, including six Americans,” State Department’s deputy spokesman Mark Toner said when asked if the US was going to accept the offer.

“That is why he is actually now the subject of a Rewards For Justice programme and furthermore, both the United States and the United Nations have designated his organisation, Jamaatud Dawa, a terrorist organisation,” the US official added.

Mr Saeed, who founded another banned outfit, Lashkar-e-Taiba, has a $10 million US reward on his head.

“While we have great respect, obviously, for the Islamic tradition of social assistance to those who are in need no matter where they might be, this particular offer strikes us as very hollow,” said the State Department official.