Islamabad gov’t admits carnage link
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AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 13, 2009 00:00
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan acknowledged for the first time yesterday that the Mumbai terrorist attacks were launched from its shores and at least partly plotted on its soil.
Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik also said Pakistan had arrested most of the main suspects - including those named by India as the masterminds of the attacks- and had started criminal proceedings against them, but reiterated that authorities needed more evidence from New Delhi to secure convictions.
The revelations suggest Pakistan is serious about punishing those behind the attacks, which killed 164 people and stirred fear that the neighbors could slide toward war and distract Pakistan from its struggle against the Taliban and al-Qaeda. India and the U.S. have pressed Pakistan hard to dismantle Lashkar-e-Taiba, a banned Pakistan-based group that is widely blamed for the Mumbai carnage.
Details passed to India
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said it passed details of its investigation to India yesterday. However, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman said in he had no immediate reaction. Malik said investigators had traced a boat engine used by the attackers to sail from Pakistan to India and busted two hideouts of the suspects near the southern city of Karachi. Other leads pointed to Europe and the United States, and Malik said Pakistan would ask the FBI for help.
"Some part of the conspiracy has taken place in Pakistan and ... according to the available information, most of them (the suspects) are in our custody," Malik said. He said six of them were already in custody, including Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Zarrar Shah, Lashkar-e-Taiba leaders named by India as the masterminds of the attack, and a person who sent an e-mail claiming responsibility for the attacks.
The revelations suggest Pakistan is serious about punishing those behind the attacks, which killed 164 people and stirred fear that the neighbors could slide toward war and distract Pakistan from its struggle against the Taliban and al-Qaeda. India and the U.S. have pressed Pakistan hard to dismantle Lashkar-e-Taiba, a banned Pakistan-based group that is widely blamed for the Mumbai carnage.
Details passed to India
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said it passed details of its investigation to India yesterday. However, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman said in he had no immediate reaction. Malik said investigators had traced a boat engine used by the attackers to sail from Pakistan to India and busted two hideouts of the suspects near the southern city of Karachi. Other leads pointed to Europe and the United States, and Malik said Pakistan would ask the FBI for help.
"Some part of the conspiracy has taken place in Pakistan and ... according to the available information, most of them (the suspects) are in our custody," Malik said. He said six of them were already in custody, including Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Zarrar Shah, Lashkar-e-Taiba leaders named by India as the masterminds of the attack, and a person who sent an e-mail claiming responsibility for the attacks.