M A I N   N E W S

Jundal, Saeed were in 26/11 control room in Karachi: PC
Tribune News Service

The policy of the Government of India is to look ahead and have greater normalisation of relations with Pakistan. However, that does not mean a lowering of guard on the security front. — P Chidambaram, Home Minister

Jundal, Chidambaram said, was chosen to train the 10 LeT men who sailed into Mumbai in Hindi and the customs followed by Mumbaikars.

What The Home Minister says The LeT is extremely active from Pakistani soil and targets India Abu Jundal’s interrogation clearly established that a control room was set up for the Mumbai attacks in Karachi, which had “some kind of State (Pakistan) support” Islamabad should admit Abu Jundal did go to Pakistan and was part of the group that trained Ajmal Kasab and nine others

He said it had now been established beyond doubt that there was a control room in Karachi from where the 26/11 attacks were monitored and directed. Besides Abu Jundal, several persons were present there. “The control room had some kind of state support… people were present in it and one of them was Hafiz Saeed,” the Home Minister said.

Abu Jundal told interrogators that men were trained at several locations in Pakistan and how infrastructure was provided. “All these activities could not have been carried on without State support,” the Home Minister said.

“We are alive to the fact that the LeT is extremely active from Pakistani soil and targets India. The policy of the Government of India is to look ahead and have greater normalisation of relations with Pakistan. However, that does not mean a lowering of guard on the security situation,” he said. On being asked if a threat remained from across the border, Chidambaram said, “Yes, I think so.”

When pointed out that Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik had asked India to look inwards as the arrested suspect was an Indian, Chidambaram said, “I agree Abu Jundal was Indian. He was perhaps radicalised in India. Pakistan should admit that Abu Jundal did go to Pakistan and was part of the group that trained Ajmal Kasab (death-row convict in the Mumbai attacks case) and nine others; that Abu Jundal was in the control room and is one of the handlers of the attackers. Just as we admit, Pakistan should admit facts too.”

At this stage, Home Secretary RK Singh interjected, saying, “They (Pakistan) should also admit the passport they gave to Abu Jundal under the name of Riyasat Ali and the two identity cards. They claimed to Saudi Arabia that Abu Jundal was a Pakistani national.”

The passport was issued despite an Interpol red corner notice against Ansari and his name being in the 26/11 dossiers that India handed over to Pakistan.

“Abu Jundal had found a safe haven in Pakistan,” Chidambaram said while rebutting claims that the March 2011 Cricket World Cup semi-final tie at Mohali was a target of Abu Jundal and his group. “The cricket match was fully secure. I am aware of the security arrangements. There was no threat to the Prime Minister of India or to the visiting Pakistan PM,” he said.