US, Britain share evidence on Mumbai carnage with Pakistan

Islamabad, Dec 28 (ANI): Pakistan's intelligence agencies have insisted that the evidence provided by Britain and the United States of involvement of Pakistani citizens in the Mumbai terror attacks is not enough, as much of it would not stand up in the court.

The US and Britain shared information with Pakistan which they believe amounts to evidence of Pakistanis being involved in the Mumbai carnage, The News reported.

This evidence includes a confession by Ajmal Amir Kasab, purportedly of Faridkot, District Okara in Pakistan's Punjab province, which was obtained by Indian officials.

Because a confession obtained under duress is not admissible in a trial, Pakistanis argue that this statement cannot be the basis of any proceedings against Kasab or others from Pakistan.

Several telephone intercepts and logs of telephone calls made from the mobile phones of alleged terrorists who were killed in Mumbai have also been shared with the Pakistani authorities.

Telephone numbers of several individuals arrested in Pakistan, including Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, also featured in the telephone call logs and intercepted phone calls.

Subsequent investigations have led to the US and Britain concluding that India's basic allegation that Lakhvi masterminded the Mumbai attack and that Lashkar-e-Taiba was involved is correct.

Pakistan's demand for evidence now is based on the argument that while shared intelligence can form the basis of actions such as those that have been taken during the last four weeks, it cannot be described as evidence.

If Islamabad is to put any Pakistani citizen on trial for the Mumbai attacks, it will require a list of Indian witnesses and their statements as well as all technical material, such as computer drives and mobile phones recovered from the alleged terrorists from Pakistan. (ANI)