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'We took Mumbai attack orders from Pakistan'

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Reuters

Posted: Dec 01, 2008 at 1641 hrs IST
Mumbai attack

Mumbai: Investigators said on Monday the militants who attacked Mumbai had months of commando training in Pakistan, adding to rising tensions between the neighbours as recriminations mounted at home.

The fallout prompted a second top politician from the ruling Congress party to resign, amid growing anger at intelligence failures that many Indians believe allowed 10 Islamist gunmen to kill 183 people and besiege India's financial capital for three bloody days.

The attacks, which struck Mumbai's two best-known luxury hotels and other landmarks in the city of 18 million, are a major setback for improving ties between India and Pakistan.

The White House said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would visit India on Wednesday, underscoring the seriousness with which Washington viewed the attacks and the potential threat they had to regional stability.

"I don't want to jump to any conclusions myself on this, but I do think that this is a time for complete, absolute, total transparency and cooperation and that is what we expect (from Pakistan)," Rice told reporters travelling with her to London.

Two senior investigators said on condition of anonymity that evidence from the interrogation of Azam Amir Kasav, the only gunmen of the 10 captured alive, clearly showed that Pakistani militants had a hand in the attack.

The clean-shaven, 21-year-old with fluent English was photographed during the attack wearing a black t-shirt emblazoned with the Versace logo. He has said his team took orders from "their command in Pakistan", police officials said.

PAKISTAN TRAINING

The training was organised by the Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group, and conducted by a former member of the Pakistani army, a police officer close to the interrogation said, on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak.

"They underwent training in several phases, which included training in handling weapons, bomb making, survival strategies, survival in a marine environment and even dietary habits," another senior officer said.

The Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba made its name fighting Indian rule in Kashmir but was also blamed for an attack on the Indian parliament in 2001 that brought the nuclear-armed neighbours close to war.

Lashkar had had close links to Pakistan's military spy agency in the past, security experts say, although the government in Islamabad insists it too is fighting the group and other Islamist extremists based on its soil.

New Delhi has not accused Islamabad's civilian government of involvement but has expressed deep frustration that its neighbour has been unable or unwilling to prevent militants using its soil to attack Indian cities.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has appealed to India not to punish his country for last week's attacks, saying militants could precipitate a war, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

"Even if the militants are linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, who do you think we are fighting?" asked Zardari in an interview with the Financial Times.

Officials in Islamabad have warned any escalation would force it to divert troops to the Indian border and away from a U.S.-led anti-militant campaign on the Afghan frontier.

"It's part of the usual blackmail of the United States that Pakistan does to take more interest in India-Pakistan issues," said B. Raman, a former head of Indian intelligence agency RAW.

"NO ONE ACTED"

The leader of Maharashtra's main fishermen's union says he had tipped off the government four months ago about militants using the sea to land RDX explosives in Mumbai.

"No one acted upon our information," Damodar Tandel said.

A huge consignment of explosives and guns brought ashore in Mumbai in 1993 was used to set off a string of bombs in the city that killed 257 people.

Mumbai residents returned to schools and offices on Monday for the first time since the attacks.

Candlelight vigils were held in New Delhi and at various spots in Mumbai on Sunday, with people holding hands, singing and carrying banners, some in remembrance of victims, others protesting over what they saw as government inaction.

Candles and flowers were also strewn at the bullet-scarred Cafe Leopold and at barricades in front of the Taj and Trident hotels, where the gunmen holed up during the 60-hour siege.

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Media never learns by Seema on 01 Dec 2008

Stop calling them Militants. They are terrorists. They have murdered over 4000 people in 4 years and you are still justifying their cause by calling them militants. Only in India.

THE TRUTH by anonymous9990 on 01 Dec 2008

Mumbai Mayhem by mohammed on 01 Dec 2008

'Terror in Mumbay'

Evidence is coming too easy... we should be suspicious by Jerry on 01 Dec 2008

Only one terrorist was captured alive and he started spilling the beans within minutes of his capture. Cell phone was found easily and calls were coming in on it from "overseas". Don't the police and the media feel that all this evidence is coming too easy and too quickly? Maybe someone other than Pakistan wants India to go to war, so we should be careful before jumping to conclusions. If Pakistan's resources are used, show them to the world and work with Pakistan to get rid of the problem in their backyard. Pakistan does not seem to be in control of these terrorists at all, otherwise why would the clues come so easily? Think about this... BTW, I grew up in Mumbai and my blood was boiling at the way this was handled (during and after) by the politicians.

Stop terming militants as Islamist by Dharmistha Sachdev on 01 Dec 2008

Can we stop referring to militants as Islaimist, terror has no religion afliations its only religion is terror so by associating a religion to them is only alienating the ppl who honestly follow a religion. Media and ppl in power need to be aware of this and make an effort to restrain from such disharmoning literatue

qualification for a politician by misha on 01 Dec 2008

isnt there any organization to question the qualification of a politician? should a politician must be atleast movie actor or a robber or a convict or who has gutts to kill people n do illegal activities?

Who is the terrorist? by zakir on 01 Dec 2008

Indians are as usual over emotional and sentimental before the complete truth is evident .Let the authorities do the full honest corroboration and come out with truth. It is not logical at all for me when the captured terrorist openely giving out statements like this , there is clearly something fishy in this entaire senario.The 10 terrorists or 14 as initially claimed very well knew thier end.We never know thier motive, Just calling them Islamist as usual only helps to cover up the truth.Pakistan had suffered a worse hotel tragedy few months ago they themself are struggling to cope with atrocities of thier own.I still doubt the visit of Modi to Mumbai with 1 crore offer, why did he do it in midest all this chaoes,more over the captured person does not have the uausl islamist look ..it is all still fishy for an ordianary Indian like me.Lets pray for the truth to emerge. until then we keep our emotions to self and not to blind our intellect.

Dont believe pak any more, ofcourse congress only believes by Sarat on 01 Dec 2008

This is work of all groups in Pak, civilian government, ISI and pak army and Lashkar all together jointly doing, and at the same time isolating themselves and they don't want to take responsibility, so indian gov. shouldn't believe Jardari or some tom dick and harry's words. If any proofs of Pak citizen or terrorist, its indian gov. responsibility to protect their citizens. India shouldn't think that terrorist groups in pak but no involvement of civilian gov. Their ploy is india should succumb to Laskhar and isi pressuure, and india has to beg pak's civiliar gov. to offer whole kashmir and paks gov is the mediator? what a such foolish plan. If Congress is ruling party their ploy may work. unfortuanately every 5 years party will change in india. so they cant fool entire india and world. I thiink for this type of micky mouse games, one day Pak is going to become burial ground only because of their religious fantacism and their puppet to China and saudi arabia.

Don't believe jardaris words, whoever done it, its pak responsibility by Sarath on 01 Dec 2008

This is work of all groups in Pak, civilian government, ISI and pak army and Lashkar all together jointly doing, and at the same time isolating themselves and they don't want to take responsibility, so indian gov. shouldn't believe Jardari or some tom dick and harry's words. If any proofs of Pak citizen or terrorist, its indian gov. responsibility to protect their citizens. India shouldn't think that terrorist groups in pak but no involvement of civilian gov. Their ploy is india should succumb to Laskhar and isi pressuure, and india has to beg pak's civiliar gov. to offer whole kashmir and paks gov is the mediator? what a such foolish plan. If Congress is ruling party their ploy may work. unfortuanately every 5 years party will change in india. so they cant fool entire india and world. I thiink for this type of micky mouse games, one day Pak is going to become burial ground only because of their religious fantacism and their puppet to China and saudi arabia.

Congress has kept the name "Gandhi" from the INC and and beleived in British Divide by Ashutosh on 01 Dec 2008

Congress has kept the name "Gandhi" from the INC, has given this name to a Roman lady and and has always beleived in British Divide

Dont be kayars by KR on 01 Dec 2008

What else do you want? Another globally relayed live drama on a terror attack in India? The time is ripe. Plan well and start building a coalition and wage a war against pak. Bomb POK terror camps. Bomb Pak Terror camps. Use the best technology. Use the best intel.Please please Stop being a kaayar. This wont be a simple war. A very complex one. A long lasting won too. But we will win it if have the wisdom and the grit.Believe in your strength and actions. Dont fear. Protect your land and protect your citizens. This your Dharma.

'We took Mumbai attack orders from Pakistan' by Ramash Roy on 01 Dec 2008

It should be understood by one and all that this is not a terrorists' attack.On the contrary it is guerella war unleased by may be Al queda or Let or by combination.In my opinion this was the first such effort and may be followed by even bigger attack,if we don't show the determination to tackle it in more organised and better way,because in this case though they did not complete their mission fully,yet they were victorious,because they killed nearly 200 people,ratio being 1 to 20 along with financial loss to the country of the tune of 50000 crores.What more they should have expected to achieve?

What about the IAS/IPS officers? by Deepak on 01 Dec 2008

We are putting all blame on politicians who change every 5 years. What about the IAS/IPS officers who run the administration and are the most corrupt branch anywhere in the world. You can read an article in Econimist this year - if you dont already know the fact. If we have to fight terrorism we need to root out corruption - which creates a leak in the system. How is it that drugs are being sold on every street corner of mumbai? Dont the cops know it?? They know how it comes by sea. My countrymen please think carefully on how these officers are killing us !

Mumbay Terror Attack by BABU on 01 Dec 2008

The incident is unfortunate and who ever behind it to be funished.. But more unfortunate that you have said it "islamist gunmen" as religion has nothing to do with it. And any terrors who named @ hindu cannot call them as Hindu terrorist as due to the same reason. And such calls makes division among the people and journalism should not pave the way for it intead they have to try for unity among people.

security at Nariman House by Raj Kumar Sharma {retd Lt Col} on 01 Dec 2008

In the aftermath of Mumbai terror attacks,the security at Nariman House in Mumbai has been enhanced. The photograph (published in the media) gives out so poignantly, the commitment, tthe sense of responsibility and the discipline of some of our security agencies. All four security personal are leasurely relaxing on the chairs. Kudos to ssecurity in India.

Security by Jaishree on 01 Dec 2008

People should refuse to vote the politicians moving around with Z or Y class security at a great cost to the Nation. If some one is really sincere and popular, he or she will mix freely with people and will have no threat.

terrorist wre taking ....pakistan by parustiwari on 01 Dec 2008

it is nice to know that congressmen have got competitors. as congress men take instructions from 10 janpath not to act .terrorist were taking instructions from their leaders.

Investigation from top to toe. by Nautankee on 01 Dec 2008

Such an enormous attack which took place in Mumbai must have connections in India at very high levels. I still remember, Madan Lal Khurana telling the media, that Dawood Ibrahim and his aide Romesh Sharma have links with Advani and Sushma Swaraj. Madan Lal Khurana even sent a letter on this to the Indian PM Manmohan Singh. The question is, has anyone investigated this matter? Advani has become a suspicion person, because while in India he hates Muslims, but while in Pakistan he loves Jinnah and he even called him secular. Regarding Madan Lal Khurana, he is either a liar or a desh drohi, because in both cases he went back to the BJP after having made these accusations.Madanal Lal Khurana and Advani's names were also mentioned in the Jain Hawala kaand, but then how come these two are still free? They even freed top terrorists which had attacked India. These guys must be investigated very thorrowly.

India should take action by Naveed on 01 Dec 2008

India should call the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan and make them to listen to the terrorist arrested, what he says. Let them have a first hand information about the training offered by the ISI and terrorist organizations in Pakistan because they're crying that India is not providing any information. India must take action now, it's the time when the whole world is with us and Pakistan is on backfoot. The Government should even think of bombing the terror training camps in Pakistan along with America.

Eliminate Pakistan by kiran on 01 Dec 2008

Wipeout PAKISTAN, eliminate the whole country

You Dont Mind by Afzal Ahmed on 01 Dec 2008

You dont mind if 1. We have serial blast all over India 2. You dont mind if they seep in and attack us with guns in our own streets 3. You dont mind if they kill our OWN dear once 4. You dont mind if the Hindus and Muslims fight over this in this country. You will only worry about your position in politics next year. How much evidence do you need to take some action. It will only hurt you if any of your family members die. Its Sad.

Pakistan: Fountain head of terrorism by Samuel on 01 Dec 2008

No doubt Pakistan is the fountain head of terrorism. Not only India but the entire world needs to get together to put them out of business. Time has come for the final assault. Indian politicians has let us down over and over again. Without a long term strategy the very existence of a vibrant Indian democracy would buckle under such such acts of aggression. Americans are here for their own reasons just not to stand beside India in times of crisis. They need us more than we need them. India needs to move very cautiously while going to bed with USA. In all previous conflicts with Pakistan USA backed Pakistan not India. Pakistan is going Somalian way - no effective goverment or say three parallel ones - so called elected one, Army-ISI, and ISI linked terrorists. India has to colectively all three - put naval blockade, open 4 fronts along Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Kashmir and engage their forces. Pakistan needs to be punished heavily for their crimes. India must succeed at any cost.

effects of terror attacks by Anuj on 01 Dec 2008

Shivraj Patil's resignation is the only proper thing that happened so far since the Congress took power. We have not seen a more inactive Home minister.

Terrorism's anti-dote Terrorism by Baatul on 01 Dec 2008

India has to fight the same way the terrorists are fighting. Incognito. Bombing Pakistan is barking the wrong tree. Indian trained and financed jihadis must blow up the terrorist training camps and their financers in Saudi. It has to have intelligence, money and small teams who will attack the enemy before it can move. They should not be able to sit in 1 place peacefully. Americans have done that to Al Qaida. Nothing else is going to work.

great politician by Harry Chadha on 01 Dec 2008

indian politicians are great. they join political parties with profit motive.

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