Will Islamabad act against 26/11 perpetrators after ex-NSA Durrani admits role of Pakistan-based terror groups in Mumbai carnage?

New Delhi: While the ruling BJP considers the stunning revelations made by former Pakistan National Security Advisor (NSA) Mahmud Ali Durrani on the 26/11 Mumbai attacks as a big diplomatic victory for the Indian government, the spotlight is again on Islamabad with questions being asked whether it will act against the Mumbai carnage plotters.

The Indian legal experts claim that former Pakistan bureaucrat's candid admission has strengthened India's case against JuD chief against Hafiz Saeed. However, it is yet to be seen if Islamabad will handover 26/11 plotters to India in light of Durrani's admission.

''Durrani said this attack was master-minded by an organization based in Pakistan thereby indicating loud and clear that the master mind Hafiz Saeed is the one who was involved in it but further stated that the Pakistan Government was no way involved in whatsoever, which shows Pakistan`s confusion in making statements," Defence expert Ranjeet Rai was quoted saying by ANI.

Durrani's admission on 26/11 terror attack has once again highlighted Pakistan’s position as the world’s major terror exporter. Durrani was, however, quick to clarify that the Pakistan government or its powerful intelligence wing, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had nothing to do with 26/11.

Durrani made these remarks at a conference on combating terrorism at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis in Delhi. "26/11 Mumbai strike, carried out by a terror group based in Pakistan, was a classic trans-border terrorist event", he said. Durrani also added that Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed had no utility and Pakistan should act against him.

It is important to note that Durrani, a retired Major-General, was sacked as Pakistan NSA in 2009 when he admitted that Ajmal Kasab was a Pakistani national. 

In that regard, Durrani is an outsider and his views do not represent those of the current establishment. But the fact that Durrani was NSA when the 26/11 attacks occurred make the admission particularly damning. 

Meanwhile, BJP chief Amit Shah had termed it as a major diplomatic victory for the Narendra Modi government.

"The role of Pakistan in the attack was never in doubt. Time and again, sufficient and credible evidences have been presented to all concerned parties by the government of India to declare Pakistan as a terrorist state," BJP leader S. Prakash said. 

Taking cognizance of the statement made by Durrani, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) said Durrani needs to be further interrogated by a transparent agency.

"This revelation by Durrani saying that Pakistan has its share of involvement in 26/11 terror activity is a very shocking and important revelation. He needs to be interrogated further and more detailed information must be extracted to be acted upon by an independent and transparent agency which is trust-worthy," NCP leader Majeed Memon said

Meanwhile, the Congress party said the Government of India should utilize this in talks with Pakistan and at the international level as well.

Congress leader PC Chacko asserted that enough evidence had already been provided to Pakistan regarding the Mumbai attack but the neighboring nation refused to take any action.

"This is something which the government of India should utilize in talks with Pakistan and at international level as well. Pakistan, in spite of the fact that we have given credible evidence, is always refusing to accept it," Chacko said adding, "Now their own former intelligence chief has come out clearly saying that there is a Pakistan hand in the Mumbai attack and other terrorist attacks against India."

Mahmud Ali Durrani, a retired army general, was the National Security Advisor to the Pakistani government when 10 Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai after hijacking a boat and killed at least 164 people and wounding 308 across the city. 

With Agency Inputs