NEW DELHI: In an attempt to further delay the 26/11 Mumbai attack trial despite a nudge from the US earlier this month, Pakistan on Thursday sought “more evidence” in the case.
In what appears to be a bid to keep Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi out of jail, Islamabad has asked India to provide more proof.
“Our Foreign Secretary has written to India’s Foreign Secretary to provide more evidence so that the Mumbai case trial is completed. The response from the Indian side is still awaited,” Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said though he did not explain when the letter was sent and what evidence is being sought.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had concluded that the 26/11 attack was orchestrated by Pakistan-based terrorists and handlers and state actors were also involved in planning the terror strike in which 166 people were killed. Tariq Khosa, former Director General of Pakistan’s FIA, who supervised the Mumbai terror attack probe had said in August last year that the Mumbai 26/11 attack was planned and launched from Pakistani soil.
“Pakistani demand for more evidence from India on 26/11 is not only absurd, but seems to be part of a delay tactic. They have done it in the past and are doing it again to derail the case,” a senior official in the security establishment told Express. He added that an “overwhelming amount of evidence” against the accused persons were already given to Pakistan, but was being completely ignored. There are certain gaps in the FIA probe which were pointed out by India. But Pakistan did not act, leading to the release of Lashkar military commander Zakiur rehman Lakhvi last year. However, 6 others — Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum — are still in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi.
New Delhi has said that despite evidence pointing to Hafiz Saeed’s involvement in the attacks Pakistan had not carried out any probe against him. The FIA has also investigated only the Karachi angle of the conspiracy — training, preparation, and acquisition of logistics —whereas the beginning of conspiracy, training, motivation which took place at Muzaffarabad, Muridke and Lahore has not been covered. The period of conspiracy is actually between 2005 and 2008, whereas the FIA has only probed the period between 2007 and 2008.