26/11 trial a test of Pakistan’s sincerity, says India

On the progress of the probe by Pakistan of the Pathankot terror strike, the MEA spokesperson said on Thursday the two governments were in “continuous communication” regarding the matter. Noting that it has seen media reports about the Pakistan high court dismissing the Pakistan government’s petition seeking voice samples of 26/11 mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Mr Vikas Swarup said India has not received any word on this through official channels.

“We see the Mumbai terror attack trial in Islamabad as a test of Pakistan’s sincerity in combating terrorism directed against India. The planning, training and financing of the Mumbai terrorist attack was done in Pakistan where 99 per cent of the evidence is. It is Pakistan’s responsibility to unearth and present the requisite evidences in the ongoing trial so that the perpetrators are brought to justice,” the MEA spokesperson said. The Pakistani government had earlier filed an application in the Islamabad high court seeking voice samples of the suspects to compare it with the communication intercepted by Indian intelligence and then present it before the anti-terrorism court (ATC) as evidence in the Mumbai attack case, but the petition was dismissed by the court on Monday, according to news agency reports.

The MEA spokesperson said it had been decided earlier by the two countries — during external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Islamabad last month — that the specifics on anti-terror matters would be handled by the two NSAs, but added that “now that Pathankot has happened”, foreign secretary Jaishankar would definitely raise the matter prominently in Islamabad as and when the FS talks take place.

On the balloon that was shot down over Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan on Tuesday, Mr Swarup said, “The defence ministry has written to the MEA and we will raise it (the issue) with Pakistan.”