Pakistan Starts Investigations - India Rejects Joint Probe

[EagleEyes]

Indian Congress rejects joint probe

NEW DELHI: The Indian National Congress has scoffed at Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s idea of a ‘joint India-Pakistan probe’ into the Mumbai terror attacks, describing the suggestion as a ‘cruel joke’. Pakistan was quick to condemn last week’s Mumbai attacks, which left at least 188 people dead, and has offered joint investigations and pledged to take action against any individual or group found involved in the assault. “Terror incidents targeting India are as gruesome and reprehensible as those emanating from Pakistan’s eastern border targeting the US and Europe,” Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari said. He added Southeast Asia was facing terror originating from the western side of Pakistan and the international community has already established links between both sides. “So the international community cannot have different yardsticks in tackling terror by the two sides,” Tiwari said. He asked the international community to consider its actions against global terror in the wake of the terror strikes in Mumbai. iftikhar gilani

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Utter garbage and arrogance.

And they expect us to just hand over whoever they ask for.

Truth Seeker posted elsewhere that Ambassador Haqqani (US) stated in an interview that the US was sharing electronic intercept and other data with Pakistan, so atleast some cooperation from that side. Hopefully the GoP acts now on the US intel.

P.S: Transcript of Haqqani interview posted below:http://www.defence.pk/forums/235344-post10.html

 

[TruthSeeker]

Judging from other posts and newscasts about the anger of the Indian population with their politicians, probably the Indian political class will go into total damage control with respect to internal Indian politics. We are in for much posturing and macho statements until someone can decide to make public credible, independently verifiable facts about the attackers. I am still totally confused about the "Faridkot" origins of the surviving attacker. I keep reading details about his family and friends in Pakistan in Indian news reports but then also read that no one in the Pakistani media can find which of several "Faridkot's" he came from, or anyone who knows him and his family? The need for an investigation that both India and Pakistan can stand up and vouch for it so evident that, if a joint investigation is not happening, only the self-serving internal politics of one or the other or both countries can explain why not.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

General elections next year for the Indians I believe.

The ruling party may be facing thrashing at this point.

 

[daredevil]

Judging from other posts and newscasts about the anger of the Indian population with their politicians, probably the Indian political class will go into total damage control with respect to internal Indian politics. We are in for much posturing and macho statements until someone can decide to make public credible, independently verifiable facts about the attackers. I am still totally confused about the "Faridkot" origins of the surviving attacker. I keep reading details about his family and friends in Pakistan in Indian news reports but then also read that no one in the Pakistani media can find which of several "Faridkot's" he came from, or anyone who knows him and his family? The need for an investigation that both India and Pakistan can stand up and vouch for it so evident that, if a joint investigation is not happening, only the self-serving internal politics of one or the other or both countries can explain why not.

Nothing is clear about this guys whereabouts, all of it coming from media reports, there was no official information from Govt.

India's Home Minister did accept the failure of security and Intelligence regarding the Mumbai attack, but that doesn't absolve the hand of Pakistani elements in this.

 

[Flintlock]

Joint probe-shmoint probe.

You want Pakistan's judiciary - which is if anything, more inept and slow than the Indian one, to take on a case which could implicate Pakistani citizens and possibly even some influential members of the establishment?

You want India to "hand over evidence", which will be immediately proclaimed as either "insufficient" or "fake", or simply used to cover up the terror trail?

I was against America's Cowboy-like attitude in the war on terror, but the rationale behind it is starting to dawn on me.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Joint probe-shmoint probe.

You want Pakistan's judiciary - which is if anything, more inept and slow than the Indian one, to take on a case which could implicate Pakistani citizens and possibly even some influential members of the establishment?

You want India to "hand over evidence", which will be immediately proclaimed as either "insufficient" or "fake", or simply used to cover up the terror trail?

*Shrug* Then your government shouldn't be throwing fits about 'lack of cooperation' and demanding this and that from Pakistan then. You can't have it both ways - be uncooperative and refuse to share evidence, and then demand we cooperate and hand over whoever you please.

I was against America's Cowboy-like attitude in the war on terror, but the rationale behind it is starting to dawn on me.

You are behind the curve then, and heading in the wrong direction - most of the world has moved on from that and accepted that the 'cowboy attitude' does not work.

 

[Rafael]

Joint probe-shmoint probe.

You want Pakistan's judiciary - which is if anything, more inept and slow than the Indian one, to take on a case which could implicate Pakistani citizens and possibly even some influential members of the establishment?

You want India to "hand over evidence", which will be immediately proclaimed as either "insufficient" or "fake", or simply used to cover up the terror trail?
I was against America's Cowboy-like attitude in the war on terror, but the rationale behind it is starting to dawn on me.

If this is the case, than i am afraid that you and your Govt should learn to live with these terrorist incidents. becuase neither your govt wants to investigate it (inside job i guess) nor they want anybody to do it for them.


so chill...

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Transcript of Ammbassador Haqqani's interview on Fox News. (Thanks to TS for mentioning it earlier)

Seems that the investigation has already started from the Pakistani side, and the US has shared information already as well.

Pakistan's Ambassador Pledges His Government's Commitment to Mumbai Investigation

Friday, December 05, 2008


This is a rush transcript from "America's News HQ," December 4, 2008. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

BILL HEMMER, HOST: So, then will Pakistan live up to its promise to take action against anyone linked to the attacks in Mumbai?

Husain Haqqani is the Pakistani ambassador to the U.S. He works out of Washington. He's my guest this evening.

Sir, good evening to you.

HUSAIN HAQQANI, PAKISTAN'S AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: Good evening.

HEMMER: India says the masterminds are Pakistani and they can prove it. Do you believe that?

HAQQANI: Thus, we are waiting for the proof and as we have promised, the moment intelligence is shared with us, we will act on it. We are already acting on all the intelligence that are already been shared with us. I won't go to the details, Bill, but let me just assure you, when Secretary Rice says that she's confident Pakistan will act, she knows what she is talking about.
Related

HEMMER: But as you sit here tonight, are you convinced?

HAQQANI: Convinced of?

HEMMER: That they were from Pakistan.

HAQQANI: Well, there is a serious reason to believe that there are elements in Pakistan that have conducted attacks in the past. Our previous military regime, that of General Musharraf, did not do its job well. We now have a democratic government that is struggling to get Pakistan back on its feet with American help, and I think that the democratic government is very serious about getting the people, who we know do exist. And so, we will act against them.

HEMMER: This is what they're saying on the Indian side of the border. They're saying the guy that was captured, the gunman, is alive and he's talking. They say he's from a small town in South Punjab. They say his father owns and operates a sidewalk food cart. And that's pretty specific.

And they go on to say that Indian authorities found a satellite phone inside one of the boats that arrived on the shore there in Mumbai and they traced all the phone calls back to Pakistan.

HAQQANI: Now, Bill, I'm not going to get into.

HEMMER: What more do you need?

HAQQANI: Now, I'm not going to — first of all, what is said in the media, and you know that very well from this country, is not always what the intelligence community has. A lot of time, there is posturing, there are political issues involved. India is about to have an election. They are concerned about their electoral prospects. Everybody is saying that there was intelligence failure in all of this.

So, they have to say quickly what they say in the media. So, I wouldn't go by that.

HEMMER: Well.

HAQQANI: But as far as intelligence is concerned, what you're hearing is what is being said in the media. I know what is being said by the intelligence community of the United States, Britain, and India to Pakistan. And we are working together.

HEMMER: And then maybe there is a better way of asking that question then. If you were given the names of these men, could you find them?

HAQQANI: If we are given the names of these people, and, of course, with some additional information, I mean, if somebody says find Joe Smith, it's not that easy to find, but if you say find Joe Smith in town such and such, and such and such state — yes, that is doable and we will certainly do that.

HEMMER: So, you're confident then if the names went out there and they were made public, you could arrest these guys or at least bring them in for questioning?

HAQQANI: Absolutely, and we will. The important thing that I want everybody to understand is that Pakistan is a democracy. India is a democracy. We are both friends of the United States, and we want a peaceful relationship with India. We do not want to tolerate acts of the kind that we saw last week. It is something that we are equally angry about, we are equally sad about as our Indian friends.

HEMMER: The reason.

HAQQANI: Most people talk about us enemies.

HEMMER: Yes.

HAQQANI: We are not enemies. We are neighbors.

HEMMER: I understand that. And the relationship has improved dramatically in the last 20 years and I applaud that. And I hope it continues along that path. Everyone in the world does and I'm certain your home country does as well, in addition to India.

But the reason I ask you that question is because there have been two prominent names that have been out publicly for the last two days and they're said to be living in Pakistan. So, if so, and you know these men, you just said you could pick them up if the names are made public, well, they are public. Why not bring them in for questioning?

HAQQANI: Bill, if somebody is brought in for questioning, I'm not going to announce to the world through FOX News for the simple reason, although it's a great medium to that, but for the simple that there are other people connected to them that we also want to bring into the dragnet. Just — let us face the fact that Pakistan is very clear about what we have to do, and Secretary Rice, when she spoke to President Zardari, came back very confident. I think for Americans, that should be a signal that America understands that Pakistan means business and (INAUDIBLE).

HEMMER: I appreciate your answer on that, Mr. Ambassador. Thank you for saying that. So, there is a possibility that you've already apprehended people, that they might be questioned at the moment, correct?

HAQQANI: There are people who are being questioned and as intelligence becomes available to us, we act on it. The important thing is to understand is, the state of Pakistan, the government of Pakistan, and vast majority of the people of Pakistan are not, in any way, connected to this act of terrorism and we do not want to condone it. So, as we have proof, as we have evidence, as we have intelligence, so we do start acting. Our actions will be related to the action of intelligence. And there will be actions.

HEMMER: Our relationship with your country is important, and so, too, with India. Let's underscore that.

Mr. Ambassador, thank you for your time tonight. When there are developments, you certainly have an invitation to come back.

HAQQANI: Thank you very much, Bill. It will be a pleasure talking to you again.

FOXNews.com - Pakistan's Ambassador Pledges His Government's Commitment to Mumbai Investigation - America's News HQ

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

I find myself becoming a fan of Haqqani now - he is articulate, very well informed, and projects Pakistan very effectively in my opinion.

Truth Seeker, how did he come across to you, as an American?

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Mumbai attacks: First evidence of home-grown terror link​

​

The first evidence of a home-grown terrorist link to the Mumbai attacks emerged today as police revealed an Indian suspect arrested earlier this year may have been involved in the planning.

By Damien McElroy in Mumbai
Last Updated: 6:16PM GMT 05 Dec 2008

Officers said they had maps seized from a man picked up in February suggesting intelligence gathering had begun more than a year ago.

Police apparently failed to recognise the importance of the nine maps, which included detailed floor plans of the Taj Mahal Palace hotel and marked the position of Mumbai's main railway terminus, after arresting Faheem Ansari.

Both locations were targeted by gunmen last week, alongside a hotel complex, a restaurant and a Jewish resident.

Ansari, who was born in India, has been accused of joining the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) after emigrating to Dubai five years ago.

Officials said that he subsequently travelled to Pakistan where he was trained by LeT leader Yusuf Muzammil at the same camp where the lone survivor of the Mumbai attacks, Amir Azam Qasab was allegedly trained.

Ansari was arrested in February in northern India carrying hand-drawn sketches of hotels, the train terminal and other sites that were later attacked in Mumbai, said Amitabh Yash, director of the Special Task Force of the Uttar Pradesh police.

Mr Ansari also had up-to-date blueprints of the Taj Mahal Palace hotel that were better than those available to the security services, Mr Yash said.

The revelation amounted to a double blow for the government and security forces, which have suffered a public backlash as anger grows over security lapses that led up to the deaths of 171.

It also undermined government attempts to focus international pressure on Pakistan by raising the spectre of home-grown terrorist involvement in the plot to attack the country's richest city.

Indian has the world's second largest Muslim population but is extremely sensitive to suggestions that its own citizens harbour Pan-Islamic grievances against the state.

Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister, lashed out at Pakistan again, stating it was unacceptable that the territory of neighbouring state had been used to perpetrate an act of terror.

Indian officials continue to brief that Pakistan's spy agency Inter Services Intelligence was involved in training the group of 10 behind the attack. "The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) connection was clear and evident," the Times of India quoted Indian intelligence sources as saying.

Ansari was alleged to have stayed in a guesthouse in the southern district of Mumbai where the terrorists arrived on fast boats from the sea last week. The material he collected during his stay was seized two months later when he was arrested for involvement in an attack in another part of the country.

The documents were included in a prosecution file but it is not clear they were widely circulated within the government. A sketch of the Fort district identified the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station where gunmen opened fire at the outset of the assault, killing more than 50 commuters.

Officials said that while in custody Ansari was taken to Mumbai for three days, where he was questioned by the city's Anti-Terrorism Squad about the plans but the line of enquiry was dropped.

Meanwhile leading American terrorism experts have fuelled speculation that some terrorists involved in the plot had escaped detection. Leading counter-terrorism expert David Kilcullen, who advised General David Petraeus, the head of the US Central Command, said the numbers involved were likely to be higher. He said: "The Indians said there were 10 attackers, based on the fact that they captured one and killed nine – you have to assume there are more out there."

In the wake of the attacks, several Indian officials have resigned including the top officials in Maharashtra state and the cabinet minister responsible for security.

Palaniappan Chidambaram, the new Home Minister, apologised for the government's failure to stop the attacks. "There have been lapses," he said. "I would be less than truthful if I said there had been no lapses."

Mumbai attacks: First evidence of home-grown terror link , bombay india - Telegraph

 

[daredevil]

Mumbai attacks: First evidence of home-grown terror link​

​

The first evidence of a home-grown terrorist link to the Mumbai attacks emerged today as police revealed an Indian suspect arrested earlier this year may have been involved in the planning.

Officials said that he subsequently travelled to Pakistan where he was trained by LeT leader Yusuf Muzammil at the same camp where the lone survivor of the Mumbai attacks, Amir Azam Qasab was allegedly trained.

So, that not so visible/invisible hand is still there. The title should be Externally stoked home-based terrorism, because all the financial support, moral support, brainwashing is coming from outside.

 

[Awesome]

This proves Indians just want a Tamasha. They are "cashing" in the deaths of 172 people.

 

[jeypore]

I find myself becoming a fan of Haqqani now - he is articulate, very well informed, and projects Pakistan very effectively in my opinion.

Truth Seeker, how did he come across to you, as an American?

To me AM, in this interview, he is pointing some fingers in Pakistan and they are working in apprending the indiviuals which he has not mentioned.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I find myself becoming a fan of Haqqani now - he is articulate, very well informed, and projects Pakistan very effectively in my opinion.

Truth Seeker, how did he come across to you, as an American?

AM, I saw him (Amb. Haqqani) on our public broadcasting service (PBS) TV station last night, not Fox News. We have a one hour news show on our PBS channel called the "News Hour with Jim Lehrer" that goes into some detail (~ 15 minutes) on ~ three stories from the days events. The questions he (Haqqani) was asked were similar to those you reported in the Hemmer FN interview above, but I think he said more about intelligence co-operation than the interview you have quoted. Amb. Haqqani struck me as extremely intelligent and well spoken. He comprehended completely each question he was asked, both the actual words AND the innuendo of the question. His answers were both to the point and seemingly frank and honest. I was very impressed by him. I have wondered about the name "Haqqani", though, given the name of the leaders of one of the Waziristan groups at whom we keep firing drone missiles. But, I assume that this name is a tribal name held by many Pakistanis, and that Ambassador Hussein Haqqani does not share the politics of his tribal cousin, Jalaludin Haqqani. I think that Ambassador Haqqani will be a great spokesperson for Pakistan to American audiences. The more he is out there talking directly to the American public, the better for Pakistan. That is my opinion.