Pakistan views 26/11 masterminds as 'national assets': Defence Expert

NEW DELHI: Taking a strong exception to Pakistan’s demand of  ‘additional evidences’ to draw an early conclusion of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Defence Expert P.K. Sehgal has said that it is just a delaying tactics on its part.

His remarks come after Islamabad demanded ‘additional evidences’ to draw an early conclusion of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in which Lashkar-e-Taiba operations commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi and six others are accused.

“Apparently they have no intention of whatsoever of proceeding against them because they look upon them as their national assets,” Sehgal told ANI.

“They were sponsored by them, fully armed by them, fully instigated by them and hence they are reluctant to take any action against them, despite national or international pressure,” he added.

Addressing a weekly press briefing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said, “The Foreign Secretary had written to Indian Foreign Secretary regarding evidence required for early conclusion of Mumbai trial. We have said that we require additional evidence. The response from the Indian side is still awaited.”

Pakistan arrested seven LeT linked militants, including Lakhvi, for their role in the 2008 Mumbai attack in which 166 people were killed.

Mumbai attack mastermind Lakhvi, Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum are accused of abetment to murder, planning and executing the Mumbai attack.

New Delhi has been urging Islamabad to complete the trial at the earliest. It has said that enough evidence has been shared with Islamabad to prosecute the accused.

The case has been going on in the country for more than six years.

On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorist entered Mumbai from the Arabian sea front and went on a carnage killing and injuring a total of 466 people.