Former Pakistani investigator Tariq Khosa’s statement that there is evidence to link the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) to 26/11 Mumbai attacks has reinforced New Delhi’s position on cross-border terrorism.
Coming ahead of the meeting of the National Security Advisers proposed for later this month, the revelations were made in a piece written by Mr. Khosa who led the probe into the 26/11 attacks, in the Pakistani newspaper Dawn . The former head of the Federal Investigation Agency has referred to seven pieces of evidence to show the attacks were planned in Pakistan. For instance Ajmal Kasab was a Pakistani national.
Evidence of Pakistan complicity piling up: ex-Foreign Secretary
Former Pakistani investigator, ex-head of the Federal Investigation Agency, Tariq Khosa pointed out in his Dawn article that the casings of the explosive devices used in Mumbai were recovered from training camps in Sindh, the fishing trawler that brought the attackers near Mumbai was traced to Pakistan, the money trail was linked to the arrested accused and the communications through Voice over Internet Protocol gave away the masterminds orchestrating the violence from Pakistan.
Welcoming the revelations made by Mr. Khosa, former Foreign Secretary Lalit Mansingh told The Hindu , that India must now “place these facts on the table” during the meeting of the NSAs.
“Pakistan has always been in denial, but evidence of its complicity is now piling up. As the NSAs’ meeting will centre on terrorism, India must confront Pakistan as these revelations reinforce our case,” Mr. Mansingh said.
Mr. Khosa’s reference to the trial of the Mumbai case having dragged on for far too long has also found a resonance in India.
“Dilatory tactics by the defendants, frequent change of trial judges, and assassination of the case prosecutor as well as retracting from original testimony by some key witnesses have been serious setbacks for the prosecutors,” he has said in his piece.
Former bureaucrat and a distinguished fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies Rana Banerji said the judiciary in Pakistan should expedite the trial, which has been hanging fire.
Describing Mr. Khosa as a person of “impeccable reputation”, Mr. Banerji said these revelations have been made before and were useful for India to present its case at international fora.
On how these revelations will play out ahead of the NSAs’ meet, he said some sections of the army and the intelligence in Pakistan seem upset by the disclosure as Islamabad is now “dilly dallying” on the dates for the meeting put forth by India.
Citing the December 16, 2014 attacks carried out by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, Mr. Khosa had suggested that “both India and Pakistan admit their mistakes and follies and learn to co-exist while trying to find solutions to their thorny issues through peaceful means.”
