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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: 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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great politician by Harry Chadha on 01 Dec 2008

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

Mulla votes by Balaji on 01 Dec 2008

Dear Soniaji,You pamper Afzal Guru for Mulla votes. You do not pay the price. The Indians pay the price. You are sitting pretty enjoying all the comforts at the cost of Indians. It is shameful.

Lest we forget the dangers by Srinivas Palepu on 01 Dec 2008

Apparently, two of the terrorists escaped and who knows, might still be planning of another attack. Also, as per the declarations of the arrested terrorist, they were a batch of 24 out of whom 10 were selected for this Mumbai assignment. Government of India should catch all 16 of these evil people before they do something again.

Spray DDT on these terrorists germs. by Nautankee on 01 Dec 2008

India and the rest of the world has to do surgery on Pakistan to clean all sorts of terrorists germs.These pathetic rascals have killed people all around the globe and now is the real time for the world to come together and spray DDT on these terrorists spreading jerks.Even in India, we must dismantle all sorts of outfits such as Al-Qaida, SIMI, VHP,RSS, Bajrang Dal etc. Not only the people of India, but of the entire world is fed up of terrorists activities.It may seem, that the educated Pakistani's are also facing trouble with terrorists, and the world must help them to pow pow them.

Dawood by Vikram on 01 Dec 2008

The time is ripe to get Dawoon back to his soil, so he can be prosecuted !!!

Pak links with Terrorists--- by romesh.sharma on 01 Dec 2008

Apart from the facts and substantial evidence of Pakistani direct involvement in this Mumbai terrorist attack Pakistan will never agree with.They will find different theories and lies which they have mastered.Lashkar has not merely close links with Pak army/ISI but it is part/branch of it.Against India its not only Kashmir but extreme envy and hate for Hindus is also another cause.Expecting any sincere action against Lashkar or Al-Qaeda is fooling ownself because these both are back bone of Pak diplomacy and very existence.Pak had been getting billions from Saudis promising creating another Islamic state Kashmirand ofcourse intensifying Islamic influence on the subcontinent.Even 9/11 must have been Pakistani intrigue and the socalled Pak fight against terrorism is abslutely to cash USAmerican helplessness to win over Talibans and AlQaeda which is supreme strategic policy of the US.Pak has never seriously acted against those groups because they are one through philosophy and action.

How can India win its war on Terror ? by krishan on 01 Dec 2008

India must fight with the power of pen and power of media. Indians must use Internet, TV, Newspapers debates, to bring these terrorists and their supporters on their knees. Indian Muslims cannot just sit in silence and enjoy privileges in this Hindu majority country anymore. They must come out and openly condemn these acts. Media should not let this issue die. Indian Muslims must show openly that their sympathies lie with India.America responded 9/11 by bombing Iraq. India should respond to its 9/11 by making day to day lives of all terrorists sympathisers very difficult. India must bring tougher security measures, tougher anti terror laws, routine scrutiny of suspected areas, continuous condemnation of terror acts on media. Public should hold prayer meeting every year, there should be public demonstrations for months to come. This way Islamic terrorist will earn that they can kill 200 Indian people but they will bring day and night hardship to all their sympathisers.

terror by kelkarq on 01 Dec 2008

the govt should enter into an understanding with Pak and UAE also about terrorists and their supporters activities.

One Day Operation by Rashid on 01 Dec 2008

It will take ONLY one day operation by IAF to destroy the camps in POK with or without Pakistan Cooperation. Please do this!!

Need to Act by DSK on 01 Dec 2008

We need to act at 2 fronts: I External: Send a strong signal. 1 Present the facts to Pakistan. 2.Ask Pakistan to hand over this terrorist group OR. Allow to enter Pakistan

terrorism and tourism by andrew simspon on 01 Dec 2008

Now, when India needs tourists to come and show support, I find today, that India is still demanding that I pay more than an Indian to fly on domestic flights. Is your tourism minister not aware that this continued discrimination against foreigners is regarded by us as offensive - as we do not discriminate against Indians? - for flights, museums etc. Play cricket, India, and we will come and support you in these difficult times. Meanwhile, I'm off to Singapore for three weeks.

Take the case to ICC by paluvakka on 01 Dec 2008

Why not India take this case to the International Criminal Court (ICC) which is an independent, permanent court that tries persons accused of the most serious crimes, the Bombay terrorist attack, involves international concern, namely crimes against humanity and killing the innocent. The ICC is based on a treaty, joined by 108 countries though USA is not a member. The jurisdiction and functioning of the ICC are governed by the Rome Statute. This will give other nations an excellent example of civilized behaviour in case of terrorist attacks. Nations need not have to take law and order into their own hands when dealing with international terror

'We took Mumbai attack orders from Pakistan' by Sunbadra M on 01 Dec 2008

War against Pakistan and/or stereotyping local Muslims is NOT the answer, but serious investigations and placing hard evidence before the global audience will force that country to behave and hopefullym eliminate from its soild such barbaric groups like LeT, generously fed and funded by Saudi wahabi petro-dollars. If Delhi sarkar fails to do this, then there would be no meaning in all the human sacrifices and the heroic acts of NSG warriors. Indians should realise that only unity with patriotism is the only indispensable weapon in the defence of civilization against barbarism.

Security is above all - NOT WAR by Kumar on 01 Dec 2008

Do not worry my felow indians their will not be any war on this. If i i am not wrong this captured terrorist will also be killed very soon to coverup all efforts. And then the babus will all be safe to start the game again. This has been the game and will be repeated again. All the people in power new that such things would happen and some more issues more serious is going to happen and still if they keep quite they are to gain. Can i ask my fellow indians do u really feel for such activities then come on get to the roads and ask the system to be revoked and designed but non will have the guts to do that because we do not care for the other anymore. ONLY RELEIF I GET IS IT IS FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT FIVE STAR FACILITIES HAVE BEEN TARGETED AND VIPS HAVE BEEN KILLED ITS WELCOME AT LEAST SPARE THE POOR WHO ARE ALREADY STARVING FOR THER LIFES IN THE STREETS. NOW LET US SEE A FEW MORE VVIPS PERISH AND THEN I AM SURE THE GOVT WILL SURLY WAKE UP.

Indian Police should get new face by Ravi on 01 Dec 2008

The Maharastra police should own the complete responsibility for the huge atrocities done on the people of Mumbai. If the terrorists can come from nowhere and kill people what is need of police? They have either lost track of their duties are some of their people at the strategic points have deliberately hid the information may be due to their proximity to the deviant forces. Govt. should investigate this angle. The top police officers should resign or take to retirement. They are not required when they cannot save people. The entire police department should be revamped because this department was established on the model of "colonial police" during British rule when the duty of the police was to give protection to Sahibs and not people. In the place of this old system more vibrant and professional police force should be raised in the lines of USA and British police. At present police dept recruited from among dropouts from high school and college and people with past criminal records

America and India both in the same boat by M. Kothari on 01 Dec 2008

This is what America would have done in response to this carnage in India. If it were America instead of where India ia, it would have destroyed Pakistan with its military muscle. It still can do something because Pakistan has been asking for it. Just as the Muslim vote in India has resulted in India being soft on terror, the Pak is even more beholden to the Muslim vote. The terrorists are giving bad name to all Muslims. If the US crushes the Afghan border with strikes, the bad guys will move near India. The US will not get out of the region any time soon and that is good. American firepower cannot be matched and there is no better time to release the CIA with full force and get them all to their fate.

NOT WAR BUT SECURI|TY by not supplied on 01 Dec 2008

Why are poeple crying out so loud about war. The whole reason of this tragedy was to drag India into war with Pakistan. In war you will only bomb innocent civilians thereby creating even more fundamentalists. Our focus should be to protect our borders and tighten our security so that nobody could carry out such acts in future. War would only bring us destruction and depletion of our resources. The main focus should be to filter out the terrorists from India and nail down their supporters and tighten our security. We need to spend our money in building our nation and strengthening our resources rather than wasting it ot a war that noone can win.

Security is above all by Rags on 01 Dec 2008

Government of India, we want to know why have been silent against Pakistan, Dawood, Terrorirsts? May we know the reason. People of this country start questioning. Have some concern about your country. I do not care any political party, security of country, security of people is above any political party or person.

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