Mumbai Attackers & Israeli-Hamas War

Pak may allow India to quiz 26/11 suspects

Pakistan may allow Indian investigators to "grill" the Mumbai attack suspects after being provided with "sufficient evidence" of their involvement in the deadly strikes, but will not hand them over to New Delhi, a media report said here on Sunday.

"At the most, Pakistan could permit the Indians to grill the people now under detention and being questioned by the Pakistani authorities and blamed by New Delhi for a key role in the Mumbai carnage. However, there is no likelihood that they will be handed over to India," a senior unnamed Pakistani official was quoted as saying by The Nation newspaper.

Lashkar-e-Toiba operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the suspected mastermind of the Mumbai attack, and its communications specialist Zarar Shah are among the militants detained in Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.

Pakistan has turned down repeated demands from India for them to be handed over to New Delhi. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said: "India does not want war with Pakistan but it must hand over the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks."

But, the Pakistani official said that instead of indulging in "a blame-game," India should provide substantial evidence about the involvement of Lakhvi, Shah or any other person in the Mumbai attacks to Pakistan.

"If this is done, Indian investigators could be given access to the wanted persons on Pakistani soil," he added.

The official said the same went for law enforcement or investigation agencies from across the world. "But the main thing is sufficient evidence proving the involvement of those who are being blamed," the official said.

He said Pakistan was carrying out its own investigations into the Mumbai attacks and was ready for a joint probe with India. So far, there had been no response from India to Pakistan's offer for a joint probe, he said.

26/11 not possible without state help: Chidambaram

There is another clear indication that India intends to keep up its intense diplomatic drive to get Pakistan to do something about those responsible for the Mumbai terror attacks.

Speaking exclusively on NDTV's programme Walk the Talk, Home Minister P Chidambaram has said that a DNA test with the man identified as Qasab's father can prove he is a Pakistani national.

The Home Minister, who is going to the US next week, has hinted at the involvement of Pakistan government agencies in the attack.

He said that the Mumbai attacks could not have been executed without state help and Pakistan will have to pay heavy price if such a crime is repeated.

He also said that India and America will cooperate closely on investigations into the Mumbai terror attacks.

Home Minister P Chidambaram said he will visit the US next week with a dossier of evidence compiled by Indian investigative agencies on the people who carried out the attacks.

"I will visit US next week with evidence on Mumbai attackers," he said.

Chidambaram also told NDTV that behind non-state actors responsible for the Mumbai attacks there were state actors as well.

"There are state actors behind non-state actors in Pakistan," Chidambaram said.

Meanwhile, a report said that US will confront Pakistan with the evidence soon and demand custody of culprits. A parallel probe by US in Mumbai has found definite involvement of Pakistan Army and ISI. US has independent recording of conversation between terrorists and their handlers.

Sources say that the Americans have traced Pakistani numbers to known LeT operatives with close links to ISI and they have exact coordinates of the safe houses used.

Handlers of Mumbai attackers were operating from ISI safe houses during the attack, sources said.

Six US nationals were killed in Mumbai terror attacks in November.

US commits support

Home Minister P Chidambaram also met US Ambassador David Mulford on Saturday morning.

The discussions included cooperation on setting up of India's National Investigative Agency. The US has committed support to India for this.

An FBI team is still in Mumbai investigating the terror attacks and will be leaving for Pakistan soon. Sources have told NDTV that Saturday's meeting was focused on the setting up of this agency, but details about the Mumbai terror investigations also came up.

US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher will be visiting India and Pakistan next week, as part of America's ongoing dialogue with the two countries in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks.

INS Viraat to turn 50, Navy to celebrate

India's solitary aircraft carrier INS Viraat will turn 50 in 2009 and the Navy plans a befitting celebration to mark the warship's golden jubilee.

"Yes, we intend to mark the golden jubilee of INS Viraat's naval service with celebrations planned for early part of this year," a Navy officer said on Sunday.

The celebrations would take place soon after the warship, which is currently docked at the Cochin Shipyard for repairs and maintenance, gets sailing again, he said.

On May 12, 2009, INS Viraat would complete 23 years of its service with the Indian Navy. Taking into account its British Royal Navy service in its earlier avatar as HMS Hermes, the warship will complete 50 years on November 18 and hence the celebration.

The Indian Navy had acquired the Centaur Class aircraft carrier in 1987 from the British after it had served them for nearly 28 years (first inducted on November 18, 1959) and re-christened it as INS Viraat.

Consequently, the British Navy too would be requested to join the events to celebrate the warship that has served both countries so well.

In fact, after the current round of repairs, India is likely to make the aircraft carrier labour on till 2015.

By then, the 28,000-tonne warship would have completed 55 years of service, over twice and way beyond its estimated sailing life of 25 years.

Israeli tanks and troops enter Gaza

Israel's threat of ground attacks in Gaza has proved to be a reality now. In the latest stage of its offensive against Hamas, Israel has sent armoured vehicles and ground forces into the Gaza Strip.

Several eyewitnesses describe huge military convoys crossing into northern Gaza. Ground troops were supported by helicopters.

The Israeli military spokesperson said ground attacks were aimed at taking control of areas from which Palestinian militants have been firing rockets into Israel.

There are also reports of clashes between the advancing Israeli soldiers and Hamas fighters. Both sides claim to have inflicted casualties.

Meanwhile Britain, France and other European countries have voiced their concern over the escalating violence. Many wounded Israeli soldiers are being taken to the hospital. The US said it was deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. But it blamed the Hamas of holding people hostage in Gaza.

In New York, the UN Security Council emergency session to discuss the situation in Gaza failed to reach any agreement.