Pakistani investigators have found substantial evidence directly connecting Lashkar-e-Toiba to last year’s Mumbai terrorist attacks, which killed over 160 persons.

The findings provided the basis for the trial which started in Rawalpindi last week of five arrested LeT operatives,with Lakhvi termed as their the mastermind, by an anti-terrorism court inside Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail. It is the first time that Pakistanis are being tried inside the country for carrying out terrorist attacks on foreign soil.

Media reports, affirming Indian allegations against LeT, appearing during past couple of days in Pakistani and foreign press, have ostensibly been leaked out by authorities. Political and security analysts in Islamabad said the deliberate leaks reflect the serious nature of investigation into LeT’s involvement and the trial to demonstrate to the world Pakistan’s determination and commitment not to allow its territory to be used for planning and launching terrorist attacks.

On Saturday, the government filed a comprehensive charge sheet in the special court against LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and four others. Most of these reports are based on this document.

These leaks also preceded Wednesday's policy statement by Indian premier Dr Manmohan Singh in Lok Sabha in defence of the joint statement issued after his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani that has come under harsh attack from Indian opposition and the media. “‘The investigation has established beyond any reasonable doubt that the defunct LeT activists conspired, abetted, planned, financed and established communication network to carry out terror attacks in Mumbai,” said the report.

The New York Times in a report on Tuesday quoted Pakistani intelligence officials as saying that the case against five accused shows their willingness to prosecute the LeT operators. Pakistan also says that the case will demonstrate that its military, which once backed the group as a surrogate force against India, has severed all ties. 

Washington, July 29
In yet another sign of deepening relationship between India and the US, nearly one-fourth of American Senators, including some of the most powerful and influential ones, turned up for a reception hosted for Indian Ambassador Meera Shankar at Capital Hill today.

The rare reception for the Indian Ambassador was hosted by the Senate India Caucus, which was formed some five years ago and is the only country-specific caucus in the US Senate.

Coincidently, the reception was hosted at the same time when the Obama administration was winding up its first US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue today.

With nearly two-dozen Senators from both Republican and Democratic parties appearing for the reception, old timers at the Capitol said this was reflective of the growing ties between the two countries and the value been given to Indo-US relationship by lawmakers.

Senator Christopher Dodd, who has replaced Hillary Clinton as Co-Chair of Senate India Caucus from the Democratic, said India was a “good luck charm” for the United States Senate.

Noting that there are many challenging issues in the world, Dodd said with the participation and cooperation of India and United States “we can make a significant difference together”. He said there were so many vitally important matters where the two countries can play a very important role working together. — PTI

Former military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf's counsel did not appear in the Supreme Court while maintaining that the court notice has not been actually received by him as yet.

"We have decided not to represent General (retd) Musharraf unless the notice issued by the court in his name is served," former caretaker minister Advocate Mohammad Ali Saif told reporters. Saif is on the panel of lawyers constituted by Musharraf to defend him and visited London last week to receive instructions.

At the start of the hearing Wednesday, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry simply asked if anybody was representing General Musharraf. There was no response and the 14-judge bench proceeded with regular hearing of the petitions of two Sindh High Court judges without further reference to the notice.

The Court had last week issued notice to the former military dictator to appear before it on July 29 personally or through a counsel to defend the imposition of emergency on November 3, 2007, and dismissal of 60 judges. The court did not classify Musharraf as a defendant or a witness in the case that relates only to non-confirmation of two judges of Sindh High Court in the wake of validation of Musharraf's action by the Supreme Court reconstituted by him under Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar after massive purge of the superior judiciary. Chief Justice Chaudhry has said the court would review that validation.

The court room was packed to capacity by lawyers and civil society activists in anticipation of what promised to be high drama with the military dictator being virtually put in the dock. The notice had also generated sort of euphoric response across the country triggering some heated debate on TV channels and print media. 

London, July 29
Two Sikh British soldiers have for the first time earned the honour of guarding Queen Elizabeth II.

The 26-year-old signaller Simranjit Singh and Lance Corporal Sarvjit Singh, 28, have become the first two Sikhs to join the fleet of royal guards at the Buckingham Palace.

Signaller Singh made history to become the first personnel to wear turban on public duties guarding the 83-year-old monarch and protecting the Crown jewels. He was soon joined by Lance Corporal Singh.

Signaller Simranjit Singh from Coventry enthusiastically took on the duty in May this year.

He serves with 21st Signal Regiment based in Chippenham, Wiltshire; while Lance Corporal serves with 3rd Regiment Army Air Corps based at Wattisham, Suffolk. — PTI