India has once again asked Pakistan to provide it with the voice samples of the handlers of the Mumbai attackers as well as speed up the trial against the 26/11 terror accused, including LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.
These demands were reiterated to Pakistan during a meeting that Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde had with his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik during a restricted meeting on the sidelines of the firth Saarc interior/home ministers conference in the Maldives on Tuesday.
These demands were raised by Mr Shinde as he reminded Mr Malik about India’s “requests” that have been “pending” with Pakistan since the home ministers of the countries last met. Mr Malik, on his part, is said to have raised again Pakistan’s demand that India allow a second visit by the judicial commission of Pakistan.
India’s move to exert pressure on Pakistan to act against the 26/11 accused, including LeT chief Hafiz Saeed, gains significance as an Indian team is all set to leave for the US on Saturday for a week-long visit to seek additional evidences in possession of the FBI related to the Mumbai attacks.
The team will also be hoping to work out the modalities to question Pakistani-American LeT operative David Coleman Headley and his accomplice Tahawwur Rana among others at a later date. Both India and the US are working closely in counter-terrorism efforts to blunt the continuing threats from the global network of the LeT, which is operating from Pakistani soil.
The recent arrest of 26/11 handler Abu Jundal has thrown up extensive details on the future operations planned by the LeT. The Indian team, consisting representatives of the home ministry, National Investigation Agency and the CBI, will meet their US counterparts to “discuss and decide how to proceed further’’ on these counts, a top government official said.
Among other Indian requests “pending” with Pakistan are action against LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, who is roaming free in Pakistan, and prompt action against 48 “most-wanted’’, including 1993 Mumbai bombings suspect Dawood Ibrahim, believed to be sheltering on Pakistani soil.