Non-state actors responsible for Mumbai terror attack, says Malik

Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik Sunday blamed non-state actors for the Mumbai terror attack of 2008 that killed 166 people and stoked a controversy by stating that Abu Jundal, an accused in the case, “worked as a source for (an) elite agency of India”.  

 

At an interaction organised by the Observer Research Foundation here, Malik said Pakistan is awaiting "substantial evidence" from India to act against Lashkar-e-Taiba founder and Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

Malik, who concluded his three-day visit to India Sunday, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wants “effective action” against those involved in the 26/11 conspiracy before undertaking a visit to Pakistan.  

In his freewheeling speech, Malik spoke on a wide range of issues including threats of terrorism faced by Pakistan.

Malik said a proposed visit by Pakistan's judicial commission to India to cross-examine witnesses will help expedite conviction of the seven people arrested in Pakistan in connection with the Mumbai terror attack.

He said the authorities had produced “irrefutable evidence” against the accused in the Pakistan court trying the cases.   

Malik said an advance delegation from India can set the terms for the visit of the second judicial commission that will cross-examine witnesses. The first judicial commission came to India in March this year and recorded statements of witnesses.

“Once the procedure is completed, we will be able to get conviction,” Malik said.   

About Saeed against whom India has been pressing for action, Malik said his country required evidence and the information provided by India was not found sufficient by the court as it relied on a statement of Ajmal Kasab.  

Kasab, the lone terrorist caught during the Mumbai attack, was hanged Nov 21.   

"We need substantial evidence ...  still waiting for that," Malik said adding that  Pakistan can act against Saeed only if India's evidence can stand up in court.

“We are determined to arrest him but with evidence ... you need more physical evidence” Malik said.

Referring to India's concern about cross-LOC infiltration, Malik said the Pakistan government had no hand in it.

Malik said he had invited Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj, whom he met Saturday, to visit Pakistan and see that there was “no mass migration” of Hindus from the country.

He said the government was determined to take action against any case of forceful conversion of minorities.
 
Asked about the response to his renewed invitation to Manmohan Singh to visit Pakistan, Malik said the prime minister wanted effective action against those involved in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

He said once the judicial commission is able to cross-examine witnesses, “we will be able to satisfy him”.

He said a perception has been created about the Pakistan government not doing enough to bring to book those involved in the Mumbai attack and the prime minister wanted to show progress in the case.

Malik pointed to the role of David Coleman Headley, Abu Jundal, S.A. Ansari and Iliyas  Kashmiri in the 26/11 strike and said it was carried out by non-state actors.

“We have non-state actors, you have non-state actors,” he said and added it was important to state the truth “so that we find a way forward”.

Malik said he had shared information concerning terrorism with National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon during their meeting Friday.  

He said Abu Jundal was a criminal who “worked as a source for (an) elite agency of India” and mentioned that he could have turned into a double-agent.  

He said agencies of India and Pakistan failed to detect planning of the Mumbai terror attack due to absence of proper coordination.

Malik reiterated that he never compared Babri mosque with 26/11 and the media twisted his remarks to create an issue.

The minister said he had “very good interaction” with Indian leaders and was able to convey the message from his leadership effectively.
“Let us become brothers,” he said.