|
|
| CURRENT AFFAIRS |
|
MUMBAI ATTACK |
|
India confirms Pakistan’s role in Mumbai terror attacks
P Chidambaram affirms Pak’s involvement, but doesn’t specify role of any particular agency
Jeemon Jacob
Thiruvananthapuram
 |
|
Photo: Shailendra Pandey |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has confirmed the involvement of Pakistan in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that took place in 2008. Chidambaram, who is in Thiruvananthapuram, told the media that key 26/11 conspirator Abu Jundal has confirmed Pakistan’s role in the Mumbai terror attacks. However, he didn’t specify the role of any particular agency. “We have evidence to prove that it was Pakistan behind Mumbai terror attack. Jundal, who is now in our custody, has confirmed Pak role. But there is no evidence to pinpoint to any particular agency,” said Chidambaram.
According to Chidambaram, India had been tracking Jundal’s moves for almost a year and has hunted him down successfully. “Today the world appreciates the restraint we have shown. We have been tracking him for nearly a year. We tracked him, found him and apprehended him,” said the minister.
Chidambaram also was critical of Pakistan for not acting effectively against the 26/11 accused. "The world appreciates how India is tracking every one of the accused in the 26/11 case. In contrast, Pakistan comes out poorly as a country in denial," said he.
The home minister also revealed that Pakistan requested India to share information on Jundal with them, but he said that India will cooperate only if Pakistan keeps its promise of acting against terrorists.
”Yesterday I got a note from Rehman Malik requesting that India share information about Jundal with Pakistan. We will do that in due course, but I insist that Pakistan keeps its promise and gives us the voice samples of all who were listed by India related to the Mumbai attacks. Let's see how Pakistan reacts. It's Pakistan who is under pressure," Chidambaram said.
Syed Zabiuddin alias Abu Jundal aka Abu Hamza was arrested by Delhi Police on his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International airport from Saudi Arabia on 21 June. Apart from admitting to playing an active role in the Mumbai attack, he had also confessed to being present in the control room set up in Karachi during the attack.
After 26 November 2008, Jundal, a native of Beed district in Maharashtra, stayed in Pakistan for sometime before leaving for Saudi Arabia where he was working as a teacher.
Jundal is known to have at least ten aliases and the first tip-off about his presence in Saudia Arabia was given by a terrorist who was arrested in connection with the Jama Masjid blast. Jundal also stayed in Bangladesh for a while.
The handler has also come clean about visiting Kerala to recruit Lashkar-e-Taiba cadres and offering them training.
Jeemon Jacob is Bureau Chief, South with Tehelka.
jeemonj@gmail.com
|
