For the loved ones of the 164 people who died in the 26/11 attacks, the arrest of Zabiuddin Ansari marks a small step forward in the slow march of justice. Mr. Ansari is alleged by India’s intelligence services to have been one of six men who guided the actions of a control team in Karachi. His arrest in Saudi Arabia will demonstrate to the masterminds of 26/11 that their crime is not forgotten, and that there will be no impunity. India’s intelligence services deserve credit for patiently pursuing Mr. Ansari — but so do its diplomats and national security strategists. India’s hunt for the perpetrators of 26/11 has met with more success than any past transnational terrorism investigation because of adroit use of the country’s geostrategic influence. New Delhi has succeeded in pushing the United States to take its counter-terrorism concerns seriously, hammering home the issue’s centrality to the relationship. Riyadh’s increasing cooperation with Indian counter-terrorism interests is also driven by its appreciation of the realities of a changing world. India, with China, will be among the kingdom’s principal energy markets in coming decades. More important, Saudi diplomats wish to wean India away from its long-standing relationship with their key regional adversary, Iran. There is one place, though, which remains shut off from the evolving international consensus on terrorism — and that is Pakistan, where 26/11’s key architects live.
There are three things India ought to do to deal with this situation. First, its high officials must resist the temptation to engage in the kinds of media-driven verbal India-Pakistan mud-wrestling that has periodically broken out over the 26/11 case. It has long been clear that powerful figures in Pakistan’s intelligence services had at least something to do with the attacks; it is unlikely that the country’s most powerful institution will collaborate in its own prosecution. It is not without reason, after all, that the men who harboured Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad are yet to be identified. Secondly, India must conduct the prosecution of Mr. Ansari as transparently as possible. Ill-advised Mumbai police investigators attempted to frame Indian nationals Sabahuddin Ahmad and Fahim Arshad Ansari for a role in the 26/11 attacks, disgracing themselves in the process. Finally, in years to come, with the influence of jihadist groups in Pakistan waxing, there will be new threats to India. New Delhi must anticipate and counter these threats using all tools at its disposal, from enhancing its counter-terrorism capabilities to doing what it can to strengthen the hands of democratic forces across the border.
Keywords: Zabiuddin Ansari, 26/11 attacks, Mumbai terror attacks, counter-terrorism, Indo-Pak relations
"This small step forward" can't give even a least consolation to the
misery of victims of the tragedy.In a world, where differences between
the states are being tried to be resolved by patience of diplomacy and
global pressure which superseded the aggression of war..this is the
least we can expect after a long time since the incident happend.
"Justice delayed is justice denied"...It never pays to be too
patient with "fanaticism".But maybe it is the time we should realize
that we've failed as a nation to bring justice to the victims and
bereaved families.The only way forward in a country, which stands for
the ideals of peace and tolerance since the time immemorial, is make
sure that the tragedy like this will never happen again.
Saudi Arabia’s deportation of Zabiuddin Ansari aka Abu Jundal, one of the planners of the Mumbai terror attacks, and his subsequent arrest on arrival in India has drawn the spotlight on India’s deepening bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia. The past six years has seen a tremendous change in the political ties between India and Saudi Arabia.Saudi Arabia is popularly perceived in India to be a staunch backer of Pakistan. Pakistani authorities used every means to convince the Saudis not to give up Zabiuddin Ansari to India during the months he was lodged in a Saudi prison. Ansari had acquired a Pakistani passport and a new identity, but it was the irrefutable evidence provided to the Saudi authorities.we got him and this is the right time to gather information regarding terrorism in India.
Dr Amrit Patel, I too fully endorse your views. But the point is, what is the aim of our politicians? Do they want to ensure justice or the security of their own vote bank? I can assure you that nothing will happen to Abu Hamza except that he too will join convicted terrorists like Mohd Afzal and Ajmal Kasab in VIP style existence at your and my cost. The main difference between India and the USA or Israel or even Sri Lanka is, their leaders place their country's interest first whereas our netas do so last!
I agree on the patience factor. But as many feel, patience cannot only
be the factor that will prevent further attacks. Also, It is tough for
Indian government to take an aggressive stance against terror given the
current security and economic scenario. So, it's a catch22. We got to
wait and see how the Indian diplomats handle these. Peace!
Once again it become amply obvious that the depth and breadth of state patronage of Terrorism in Pakistan. They used all kinds of falsehoods and denials, one after the other until caught red-handed, as in the case of Ossama Bin Laden.
Rehman Malik’s response to Zabiuddin Ansari’s arrest was typical of Pakistan’s, living in a state of denial as far as terrorism and ISI involvement is concerned. India must be extremely cautious about the evil intentions of Pakistan while dealing with it.
But the worst situation that we can afford to accept, in that region is its balkanization and complete collapse of state authority. That will eventually lead to the takeover of power and nuclear arsenals by Al-Qaida affiliated religious fanatics. An Afghan like anarchic situation there will be too costly an affair for India in long term.
It is good to hear that the Indian intelligence service is progressing
towards total justice for the people who suffered in 26/11 attacks (it
is justice for our nation too). Though Kasab is still in prison for
three and a half years now, the justice is still pending. It is
expected from government that prosecution of the guilty should be
conducted in proper time with required transparency. Also, the police
force as well as intelligence services should not neglect the
possibility of terrorist attacks at any time in the country. Even
people should be very careful in society to ensure that such kind of
attacks do not occur in future. Now since the citizen awareness about
possible terrorist attacks and the awareness about keeping a watch on
thing happening around us, be it in train, bus or road, it will be best
to have a strong punishment for people like Ansari, Kasab and Afzal
guru so that these terrorists will know that, there will be the
toughest penalty for an act like this.
Jai Hind.
It is a million dollar question whether Government will conclude the case establishing the criminal conspiracy and guilt in a shortest period and execute him immediately or will sleep silently as in the two established cases of Afzal Guru and Kasaab. See how USA worked seriously and finished Osama Bin Laden as also Sudaam Husein. Likewise, see how Israel acts in such cases. It is most sad and unfortunate that Indian Government wastes criminally hard earned tax payers money. People should now rise to the occasion and demand concrete actions from the elected leaders. Dr Amrit Patel
How much patience would you consider good enough? Exposing ISI's links to terrorists who killed Indians is not "mud-wrestling". Pakistan is a failed state with an aggressive agenda. I think we have our right to self-defense. And the duty to bring justice to all Indians who lost their lives to the bullets of those murderers.
There are three more things that India ought to do. Ziabuddin Ansari is an important source of information. We must utilize this to find out out future plans of terrorist groups in Pakistan so as to avert 26-11 like attack. Second, the trial of Ziabuddin has to be expedited. Being transparent does not mean being tardy. The Kasab case is yet to reach it's end. Let us not repeat this in Ziabuddin's case. Lastly, the Government has to be always watchful while dealing with Pakistan. The periodical bursts of brotherly sentiments and an urge to have overnight resolutions of long-standing issues have to be avoided. Pakistan is not our brother lost in a Mela. It is a nasty and troublesome neighbour with an anti-India mindset and has to be treated like that.
I am not so sure about Saudi cooperation. The Saudis have long rebuffed India and they are very close to Pakistan. The Saudis were severely pressured by the US to transfer Ansari to India as several US citizens were killed in the Mumbai attack. The US does not forget easily attacks on its citizens, unlike India
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