Pakistan on Saturday indicated its willingness to provide voice samples of 26/11 handlers and offer any other kind of cooperation to India, which pressed for prosecution of more people involved in the Mumbai terror attacks.
A day after their meeting here that focused on 26/11 attacks, Home Minister P. Chidambaram and his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik talked in a positive tone, saying they were positive about the outcome of their deliberations.
“We will provide every possible assistance in addition to what you are talking about — voice samples,” Mr. Malik told reporters when asked whether Pakistan would provide voice samples of the handlers of 26/11 attackers.
India has sought the voice samples in a dossier given to Pakistan last week and Mr. Chidambaram is understood to have raised this issue at the meeting with Mr. Malik.
Indian investigators want the voice samples of the handlers, who have been identified in the dossiers given by it, to be matched with the recordings of the conversation the Mumbai attackers had with them.
“It is underway. We received dossier four-five days back. I sent it to investigators, and whatever they requested, we will look into it,” Mr. Malik said.
Asked whether Pakistan would supply these to India, he said, “I am not denying anything. We will help them take these terrorists to justice like we are trying abettors and conspirators on this side. I am not denying or refusing any cooperation or any assistance.”
The Indian side said the two countries were picking up threads of the process of improving ties interrupted by the Mumbai attacks.
Speaking to reporters separately, Mr. Chidambaram said he had conveyed to his counterpart that while seven LeT activists had been arrested in connection with Mumbai attacks, there were more people involved and they should also be prosecuted.
He noted that the trial of seven 26/11 accused being held here was adjourned again on Saturday.
Mr. Chidambaram said the two leaders discussed whether they could “identify what needs to be done having regard to what has already been done“.
“I remain positive that something good will come out of that meeting,” he said.
Mr. Chidambaram said: “We know that seven people (are being) prosecuted in the case. How far the prosecution has proceeded, it is for the Pakistani government to tell. We think that more people were behind the attacks and more people should be prosecuted.”
“That point has been made to the Pakistani government and as I said, I wish to remain positive on the outcome of the meeting with Rehman Malik,” the Home Minister said.
When a reporter said Pakistan had termed “myopic” India’s decision to suspend dialogue process after Mumbai attacks and harping on arrest of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, Mr. Chidambaram said Pakistan government had not used that word.
India considers Saeed, also the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba, as the mastermind of the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, including foreigners.
While New Delhi has been pushing for expeditious action against Saeed, Pakistan has been maintaining that there was enough evidence to prosecute him.
“But whatever was the process till 26/11 was interrupted by 26/11 and recognising that the process was interrupted is not myopic by any standard. That is the reality,” he said.
The Pakistan Interior Minister said he had sent the Indian dossier to investigators and “Whoever is found guilty and if somebody is involved, I will definitely take action. There is no question about it.”
He insisted that “we are not there to create any hurdle in the investigation. Rather we will assist and cooperate with India. India has extended hand of friendship. We accept it and we have also extended hand of friendship.”
