Latest 26/11 Indian evidence to Pak most likely ‘destined for dustbin’

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Government has directed the concerned authorities to examine the list of six new suspects in the Mumbai attack, which was handed over to it during the foreign secretary level talks last month.

However, it is unlikely that any substantial action would follow, as Pakistan maintains that most of the suspects have been identified by their aliases and cover names, and that it is difficult to identify the perpetrators only through this evidence.

“A list of six more suspects - Sajid Mir, Maj Abdur Rehman, Brig Riaz, Abu Kafa, Abu Qama and Abu Hamza - has been given by India,” a security official privy to the issue said.

These names had emerged during Lashkar operative David Coleman Headley’s interrogation by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA).

According to sources, India, in its dossier, has named Sajid Mir as a former Pakistan Army official and the international operations commander of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

As per the information provided by New Delhi, Major Abdur Rehman alias Pasha also worked for the Pakistan military and retired in 2007. He was arrested in September 2009 for his alleged links with Headley, who is currently being tried in the US, but released later.

During his meeting with Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Islamabad late last month, Home Minister P. Chidambaram had urged Pakistan to follow up the leads that emerged from Headley’s interrogation and hasten the Mumbai attack case probe.

However, there are slim chances of Islamabad taking any credible action despite ample evidence provided by India, as it continues to pester New Delhi that it should stop looking at the issue of terrorism through the prism of Mumbai.

“Islamabad is committed to proceeding with the Mumbai trial, but to expect everything to be pegged on the Mumbai issue is unfair and against the spirit to normalise bilateral ties,” The Dawn quoted a top diplomat, as saying. (ANI)