Ajit Doval had planned to confront Pakistan on shoddy 26/11 probe during NSA talks

TNN

New Delhi, 24 Aug 2015: Besides preparing a list of 54 Pakistan-based fugitives wanted for offences committed in India, national security adviser Ajit Doval had intended to confront Islamabad on its shoddy investigation in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case.

 

According to sources involved in preparation of the 26/11 dossier for the now-cancelled NSA-level talks, India had meant to tell Islamabad in no uncertain terms that all available evidence was not placed on record in the trial in Pakistan. The dossier detailed how Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), which probed the 26/11 case, never made an effort to extend the probe to LeT founder and prime mastermind Hafiz Saeed, who, as per Abu Jundal, an accused held in India, had visited the LeT control room as top commanders there instructed Ajmal Kasab and others on how to go about the mayhem.

 

Besides, despite India having identified two state actors - Pakistan army officers Major Samir Ali and Major Iqbal - in the 26/11 conspiracy, the FIA never made an effort to locate them or confirm their identity. The two were named by American LeT operative and reconnaissance man for 26/11 attacks David Coleman Headley and his aide Tahawwur Rana during the course of their trial in the US as well as in their interrogation by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA).

 

Islamabad is yet to respond to India’s letters rogatory sent with respect to the Mumbai attacks.

 

"Our dossier clearly stated that Pakistani investigators had probed the 26/11 case poorly. All evidence, including that presented by India, was not taken on board, which is what had led the court there to grant bail to main accused Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi," an officer said.

 

"Our fear is that given the shoddy investigation and failure of the prosecution in Pakistan to place all available evidence before the anti-terrorism court, not only Lakhvi but the six others arrested in the case may also walk free," the officer said adding that the dossier for the NSA-level talks would have asked Islamabad to place all the evidence on record and re-arrest Lakhvi.

 

A key point in the 26/11 dossier prepared for NSA-level talks is the request for voice-samples of not only Lakhvi but also Major Samir Ali, who was present in the LeT control room during the 26/11 attacks.

 

Recently, former FIA chief Tariq Khosa had, in an article published by a prominent Pakistani daily, admitted that the Mumbai strikes were planned and launched from Pakistan. He said Kasab was a Pakistani who trained with other attackers in Thatta, Sindh, before being launched by sea. Also, he revealed that the LeT control room in Karachi, from where the operation was directed, was identified and secured by the investigators.