Nov. 4: Pakistan on Friday insisted that it is “sparing no effort” in bringing the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack to justice but contended that it needed India’s cooperation for the successful completion of the trial.
Replying to a question on US President Barack Obama’s remark that Pakistan has a “special responsibility” to act “transparently, fully and urgently” in the case, foreign office spokesman Abdul Basit said Islamabad was committed towards this. “At our end, we are sparing no effort,” he said.
Pakistani authorities arrested seven suspects, including Lashker-e-Tayyaba operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, shortly after the incident on charges of planning and facilitating the attacks. However, their trial in an anti-terrorism court has been marred by procedural delays.
Only one witness has testified so far in the trial and the judge has been changed twice. Mr Basit said Pakistan’s commitment stands, but India’s assistance was essential to the case.
“Pakistan is committed to bringing the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice but we need India’s assistance and cooperation for the successful completion of the trial,” he said. India has accused Pakistan of not acting against JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, whom New Delhi blames for playing a central role in the Mumbai plot, but Islamabad has maintained that there was no concrete proof against the LeT founder.