Former Pak NSA's 26/11 claim: Old wine in an older bottle

the Pak NSA would have been aware of what the Inter-Services Intelligence and the army in Pakistan were up to.

On Monday, former National Security Advisor of Pakistan, Muhammad Durrani said that the Mumbai 26/11 attack was a classic example of cross-border terrorism carried out by his country. He however said that the Pakistan government had no role to play in it. Many in the media went to town with the news, but the fact is that there is nothing new in the claim.

[26/11 carried out by Pak-based group, says former Pakistan NSA]

It is a well-known fact that the Pakistan establishment backed the Lashkar-e-Tayiba with logistics, training and money to carry out that deadly attack which left over 160 people dead. There are many who have spoken about the role played by the Pakistan establishment in the attack, but the fact of the matter is that not much or nothing has been done to bring the perpetrators to justice.

David Headley, who carried out the reconnaissance, has spoken about the role of the establishment. Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist to have been caught alive following the attack has spoken about how army officials in Pakistan often visited their training camp in Murdike.

Major Sameed Ali and Major Iqbal, two ISI men were part of the planning and execution. Pakistan denies the very existence of these men. To add to the misery is the trial that is going on in Pakistan, and little or no progress has been made.

Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the plotter in chief has not been brought to justice. It has been nine years since the attacks took place and Hafiz Saeed has not been put in the box as yet. Kasab and Headley speak about how Saeed motivated the terrorists to strike. Pakistan has been given ample proof, but refuses to believe the same especially against Saeed and Lakhvi.

Durrani's statements do not surprise or shock. It is a well-known fact that India has been speaking about the moment the attack took place. Durrani absolves the establishment of any role in the attack. This is where Durrani stops short of telling the truth. He was the NSA and would have been aware of what the Inter-Services Intelligence and the army in Pakistan were up to.

Maritime training was given by former naval officers in Pakistan. Major Iqbal and Sameer Ali were serving officers who trained the LeT to gather logistics. In fact, it was them who oversaw Headley's visit to Mumbai. Further, the role of Sajid Mir another suspected establishment man was not even mentioned by Durrani. Mir, one of the deadliest operatives of the LeT termed as an international terrorist is suspected to have been relieved of his ISI duty officially, to help plan and coordinate this attack.

OneIndia News