Pakistan claims significant developments in Mumbai probe

02 Jan, 2009

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Thursday his country had made significant developments in a probe into November's Mumbai terrorist attacks, which left more than 170 people dead and over 300 injured.
"We are moving ahead in our investigations and we are examining our development," he told a local news channel when asked to comment on a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) story that reported Pakistan's own probe had linked militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) with 10 fighters involved in the Mumbai attacks.
"I do not want to comment on Wall Street Journal story. If I do, the ongoing investigation into the incident will be affected," Qureshi told private TV channel. The WSJ cited a Pakistani security official saying that at least one top LeT commander, Zarar Shah, has admitted, during interrogation, that he played a role in the Mumbai attack.
A second person familiar with the investigation said Zarar admitted to Pakistani officials that he was one of the key planners of the operation and that he spoke with the attackers during the rampage to give them advice and keep them focused, according to the WSJ report.
New Delhi has demanded that Pakistan extradite some suspects involved in the Mumbai attacks. Pakistan has refused so far, but has condemned the action. Simultaneously, it has asked India to share evidence, if it has some, against any "non-state Pakistani actors." "There is no extradition treaty between India and Pakistan. If there are some people involved in it (the Mumbai attacks) and India shares evidence with us, we will take action against them under our judicial system."

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