Mumbai Attacks

[third eye]

BBC News - US charges three men over 2008 Mumbai attacks


A Pakistani militant leader a former Pakistani army officer and a man from Chicago have been charged in the US over the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Militant chief Ilyas Kashmiri and ex-army officer Abdur Rehman were also charged with plotting to attack the offices of a Danish newspaper.

Neither has yet been arrested. Chicago businessman Tahawwur Rana had already been charged with the newspaper plot.

The Mumbai attacks left 174 people, including nine gunmen, dead.

All three men are accused of helping to lay the groundwork for the November 2008 attacks in the Indian city.

Last October, Mr Rana was arrested and charged with plotting overseas attacks including one on the Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten.

He was arrested with David Coleman Headley, a Pakistani-American accused of having helped identify targets for the Mumbai attacks and also of plotting to attack the newspaper.

On Thursday, extra charges in connection with the Danish newspaper plot and new charges relating to the Mumbai attacks were filed against Mr Rana.

The Jyllands-Posten's decision to publish a series of cartoons about the Prophet Mohammed in 2005 sparked angry and violent protests from Muslims in several countries.

Both men have denied the charges.

US prosecutors have now charged retired Pakistani army officer Abdur Rehman and Ilyas Kashmiri, a leader of an outlawed Pakistan-based militant group with plotting the 2008 attacks in Mumbai.

Abdur Rehman is believed to be living in Pakistan, while Ilyas Kashmiri is said to be living in the Pakistani tribal areas in Waziristan.

Ilyas Kashmiri was reported to have been killed by an air strike in September 2009 - but reports since then have said he was alive.

It is very difficult to confirm information from Pakistan's north-western tribal belt.

 

[Hulk]

Would be interested to know when did the former PA officer retired. When this case came into light they said recently retired. It can be that he was on payroll at the time of attack.

 

[third eye]

DAWN.COM | Pakistan | US willing to share drone technology with Pak: Gates

By Baqir Sajjad Syed and Iftikhar A. Khan
Friday, 22 Jan, 2010

ISLAMABAD: The government said on Thursday it could not guarantee against repeat of 26/11 like attacks in India and the best safeguard against such strikes was de-linking of peace process from action against terrorism and the Kashmir and water disputes.

“Pakistan is itself facing Mumbai-like attacks almost every other day and when we cannot protect our own citizens, how can we guarantee that there wouldn’t be any more terrorist hits in India,” Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani was quoted by a source as having told the visiting US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates, who called on him. Pakistan suffered its worst year of terrorist violence last year, with more than 3,000 people killed.

Secretary Gates had in India warned that Pakistan-based militants, who had links with Al Qaeda, were planning strikes in India with the hope that retaliation would lead to a new conflict.

In his bid to raise pressure on Pakistan to act against militant groups targeting India, the secretary had said that New Delhi, unlike the restraint shown after Mumbai incident, was not apt to holding back if attacked again.

Prime Minister Gilani recalled the steps taken against militant groups saying they had been outlawed and their network was disrupted. In an apparent reference to Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, who has been accused by India of masterminding the Mumbai attack but has been released on court orders, the prime minister said his government could not prosecute anyone without evidence.

India, which had suspended the Composite Dialogue with Pakistan in the aftermath of Mumbai attack, has been refusing to resume it without ‘credible action against alleged perpetrators’ despite a commitment at Sharm El Sheikh that the peace talks would be de-linked from action against terrorism.

Mr Gilani regretted India’s obstinacy, stating that as long as India held the peace process hostage to progress on terrorism, forward movement in normalisation of ties was unlikely.

“Pakistan is committed to peace in the region and in this context has been making sincere efforts to resume Composite Dialogue with India, but the response from the other side has not been encouraging. Relations between India and Pakistan should not become hostage to the activities of terrorists.

For lasting peace in the region, both countries should resolve core issues, including Kashmir and water disputes,” a statement by the prime minister’s office quoted him as having said.

BRIDGING TRUST DEFICIT
The prime minister presented a roadmap for bridging the trust deficit between Islamabad and New Delhi.

The prime minister’s roadmap sought evenhandedness by US vis-à-vis Pakistan and India, stoppage of unmanned drone attacks in Pakistan’s territory, immediate disbursement of Coalition Support Fund arrears and deletion of Pakistan from the list of countries whose nationals face special screening at US airports.

“Trust deficit could be minimised by improving perceptions and developing people to people contact between the two countries,” he said.

The US defence secretary also met President Asif Ali Zardari, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Joint Chiefs of the Staff Committee Chairman Gen Tariq Majid and Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

The security situation in the region and the US plans to commit another troops in Afghanistan came under discussion during the meeting.

During his meeting with President Zardari, security situation in the region, drone attacks, payment of CSF arrears, fight against militancy, drug trafficking, the new US screening regime and strengthening of Pakistan’s law-enforcement agencies were discussed.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, spokesperson to the president Farhatullah Babar said Mr Zardari emphasised that the issue of CSF arrears amounting to about $2 billion be resolved at the earliest.

The president said that the economic cost of the war against terror amounting to $35 billion for the last eight years had impacted on Pakistan’s economy adversely and the amount under CSF had actually been spent by Pakistan. It needed to be reimbursed urgently.

“Pakistan has been facing delays in payments of CSF claims,” the president informed the defence secretary, calling for timely reimbursement of arrears.

Reviewing the overall security situation, the president welcomed US affirmation of commitment to Pakistan’s stability and security. “Ties must be based on mutual respect and trust.”

Mr Zardari expressed reservations over the new screening regime for Pakistanis, saying that it had caused resentment and called for a review.

About the drone attacks on Pakistani territory, the president said that it undermined the national consensus against the war on militancy and called for creating a mechanism whereby the drones were used by Pakistan’s security forces rather than by foreign troops.

Mr Zardari said it was critical that national consensus on war against militancy was not allowed to erode and anything that tended to weaken it was avoided.

The president said that when Pakistan’s security forces employed high-tech in the war it had no negative fallout. “If our own security forces possess drones it will be a more helpful high-tech weapon of war than when it is used by foreign forces.”

He called for strengthening law-enforcement agencies and provision of equipment for fighting militants.The president emphasised the need for early adoption of legislation in the US on reconstruction opportunity zones (RoZs) in tribal areas.

Referring to the new US Afghan strategy, Mr Zardari said Pakistan had a stake in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and urged US to show more sensitivity to Pakistan’s concerns. US actions should remain on the Afghan side of the border, he added.

President Zardari underlined the need for controlling drugs which, he said, was serving as “a force multiplier” to the benefit of militants.

Mr Gates appreciated Pakistan’s role in the war against extremism and militancy and assured full support in the fight against militancy as well as economic rehabilitation.

 

[equiliz3r]

DAWN.COM | World | India police arrest two in Mumbai for planning strikes


MUMBAI: Police in Mumbai said on Sunday they have arrested two men they say were preparing to attack several targets in the Indian financial hub, including the offices of energy firm Oil and Natural Gas Corp.

Police said they believed the men were receiving directions from Pakistan. India has said militant groups based in Pakistan were responsible for the November 2008 attacks in Mumbai which killed 166 people.

“We believe they were taking instructions from across the border to attack three or four targets in Mumbai,” said Vinesh Agarwal, an inspector with Mumbai's anti-terrorism squad

“They are being interrogated,” he said.

The men were identified as Abdul Lateef and Riyaz Ali, Agarwal said.

Security in Mumbai has been tight since a bombing in neighbouring Pune city last month that killed 16 people, the first major militant strike since the 2008 attacks on Mumbai.

Mumbai is hosting several IPL cricket league matches featuring Indian and international players.

There have been reports that militants had threatened to disrupt the month-long IPL tournament, as well as the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi later this year.

 

[navtrek]

Well great work by the Police dept hope they continue with the same momentum.

 

[HAIDER]

MUMBAI: Police in Mumbai said on Sunday they have arrested two men they say were preparing to attack several targets in the Indian financial hub, including the offices of energy firm Oil and Natural Gas Corp.

Police said they believed the men were receiving directions from Pakistan. India has said militant groups based in Pakistan were responsible for the November 2008 attacks in Mumbai which killed 166 people.

“We believe they were taking instructions from across the border to attack three or four targets in Mumbai,” said Vinesh Agarwal, an inspector with Mumbai's anti-terrorism squad

“They are being interrogated,” he said.

The men were identified as Abdul Lateef and Riyaz Ali, Agarwal said.

Security in Mumbai has been tight since a bombing in neighbouring Pune city last month that killed 16 people, the first major militant strike since the 2008 attacks on Mumbai.

Mumbai is hosting several IPL cricket league matches featuring Indian and international players.

There have been reports that militants had threatened to disrupt the month-long IPL tournament, as well as the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi later this year.
DAWN.COM | World | India police arrest two in Mumbai for planning strikes

(Thats fun part right after Pakistan disclose Indian involvement in Lahore blast, next day they got two muslims with allegation)

 

[equiliz3r]

sorry mate already posted in India def section

 

[sarthak]

A terror plot has been busted in Mumbai after two men were arrested by Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) on Sunday. The investigators say they have been trailing these men since the Pune blasts.

Identified as Abdul Latif Sheikh and Riyaz Ali, the arrested men planned to attack ONGC oil installations, Mangaldas cloth market and Thakkar Mall in the next day or two, according to the investigators.

Some people in Pakistan were trying to unleash terror in Mumbai through their Indian operatives. They wanted to take some people to Pakistan and these two were to make the passports," Maharashtra ATS chief K P Raghuvanshi said.

The ATS also claims that Indian citizens, Abdul Latif Shaikh and Riyaz Ali locals from the suburbs of Bandra and Dahisar, were being guided by handlers in Pakistan.

"They were in touch with one 'uncle' in Pakistan," Raghuvanshi said.

Nevertheless, officials say, the planning indicates Shaikh and Ali are possibly linked to the Laskhar-e-Toiba.

The oil company, meanwhile, has taken precautions. "ONGC received intelligence inputs 10 days ago. We are on a high alert and have done whatever we can to improve security," ONGC Chairman RS Sharma said.

According to the ATS, Abdul Latif and Riyaz Ali are connected with a terror network in Pakistan and the police are on the lookout for their other accomplices.



I think it's really worrying that more and more of our citizens are getting involved in such things.

 

[Avatar]

I think it's really worrying that more and more of our citizens are getting involved in such things.

After what happened in Mumbai the organizations responsible for it are under a lot of pressure to do something again of the same magnitude. This is why they are pushing harder than ever. Our agencies are also working hard to foil any attempts but in such a huge nation with such a high population it's very difficult to track everything.

 

[Awesome]

Indians are so quick to gripe about allegations against India, yet they have no qualms of harping the Pakistan mantra all the time.

 

[Spitfighter]

^^Is it really that hard to digest asim?

Pakistan is a victim of its own flawed policies, what is happening in Pakistan today is a result of Musharraf's U-turn after 9/11.

On the other hand, Pakistan has waged a never ending low intensity proxy war against India, hence the 'Pakistan mantra'.

 

[Avatar]

Indians are so quick to gripe about allegations against India, yet they have no qualms of harping the Pakistan mantra all the time.

Asim Bhai, I think we both know the realities.

Indians might go an extra mile to defend themselves but you cannot deny that almost every terror (Except Naxals) attack in India has it's origins somewhere in Pakistan.

 

[HariSeldon]

Indians are so quick to gripe about allegations against India, yet they have no qualms of harping the Pakistan mantra all the time.

AA...There is difference in this news and aleggation on Indian RAW for Lahore.
1) This statement is after investigation. After tracking the suspects.
2) Its alleged that "handlers" are from PK. Nobody said anything abt ISI or PA or any govt. involvement. They are pointing finger at LeT. For Lahore blasts you are directly accusing GOI. Are you sure blaming LeT and RAW are same?

 

[Chanakyaa]

Note that pakistan accuses the Indian Gov, while India blames the Globally banned Groups/Terrorists like LeT AND HIZB who run their activities from pak soil.

 

[thebrownguy]

Note that pakistan accuses the Indian Gov, while India blames the Globally banned Groups/Terrorists like LeT AND HIZB who run their activities from pak soil.

Exactly, thats the point! Are any more details given out to the media. Man, my friend works at ONGC, i had my heart in my mouth. This is terrible. I feel more needs to be done to to crush the extermist elements. Whatever they may fight for, if any country is letting them use their soil, they must realize its time to crush these rats.
The whole sub continent is burning, some hard decisions have to be taken!!