Pak to grill 26/11 'mastermind' Lakhvi

The judge issued the order after reviewing evidence produced by investigative agency against them, the sources were quoted as saying, PTI reported.

The judge recorded the suspects' statements before sending them to physical remand, the report said.

Meanwhile, 'Dawn' on Sunday reported, quoting an unnamed security official, that the suspects, including Lakhvi, were produced before judge Sakhi Mohammed Kahut of the anti-terrorism court at an undisclosed location.

The FIA is expected to submit a chargesheet against the suspects at the end of the remand, it said. The agency has already conducted preliminary investigations into the case.

Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind of the Mumbai attacks, was arrested in December near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Both Lakhvi and Shah, another accused named in the FIR is Hamad Ameen Sadiq, a key militant linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba, western diplomatic sources told news agencies.

Pakistan on Saturday briefed foreign envoys on the steps taken by it to cooperate with India in bringing the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice and to eliminate terrorism and militancy.

The heads of diplomatic missions in Islamabad were also briefed by foreign secretary Salman Bashir on Pakistan's perspective on "peace, security and stability, with particular emphasis on the situation in South Asia".

Meanwhile, Pakistan interior minister Rehman Malik on Saturday said that his country may demand from India the custody of Ajmal Kasab, the lone survivor among the accused of the Mumbai terror attacks.

"So far, we have not asked India for the custody of Kasab. But we may seek it if the investigation demands," Rehman Malik said in the southern port city of Karachi, adding that at the moment, it would be premature to say anything else in the matter.

India was quick to react, saying there was no way this could happen.

"The crime was committed in India. There is no question of handing Kasab to them. In fact, Pakistan should hand over to India the other suspects they've arrested because they were responsible for this terror attack. It can't be the other way around," sources in the Indian external affairs ministry said in New Delhi.

"On what basis do we send Kasab out there? The crime was committed out here (in Mumbai), therefore logic and reasoning demands that the suspects who they've rounded up be sent here (to India)," the sources told IANS.

Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said the state had gathered enough evidence to show that Kasab, the only surviving November 26 Mumbai terror suspect, had been a part of the criminal conspiracy hatched in Pakistan to orchestrate the terror strikes at pre-decided sites in Mumbai.

"We have all the evidence required. The chargesheet will be filed within a couple of days," Nikam said.

"He is not educated and (is) poor and the concept of religion was wrongly projected to him," he said.

IANS reported that Nikam said while victims of such systematic brainwashing by extremist forces needed proper handling, there was a need to distinguish between a freedom fighter and a terrorist.

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26/11 suspects in Pak FIA’s custody

A court here on Sunday sent six accused in the November 26 Mumbai terror attacks to 14-day police remand. All the accused, including prime suspect LeT leader Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, will now be in the custody of Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) which is probing the 26/11 strikes.

FIA officials had on Friday tried to obtain physical remand of the suspects "without producing them in the court, but their efforts proved unproductive".

Officials at Pakistan's foreign office said Saturday that the Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court has issued a 14-day physical remand of the six alleged suspects, into the custody of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The judge gave the order after reviewing the evidences produced by the agency against them, officials said, adding that the suspects' statements were also recorded in the court.

Admitting that part of the Mumbai attacks conspiracy was planned in Pakistan, Interior Minister Rehman Malik had on Thursday said that a first information report (FIR) had been registered with FIA's Special Investigation Unit. The minister also admitted that the lone terrorist caught in Mumbai, Ajmal Amir Kasab, was a Pakistani.

Eight suspects had been identified in the FIR, six of whom have been arrested. Two are still at large.

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Obama should not link Kashmir with Pak problems: NSA

Coming out strongly against any attempt to link Kashmir issue with turmoil in Pakistan's tribal areas, National Security Adviser M K Narayanan has said that US President Barack Obama would be "barking up the wrong tree" if he holds such views.
Narayanan said India had made it known to the Obama team at the outset that it would not like Indo-Pak relations to be on the agenda of Richard Holbrooke, special envoy of the US for Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"References made by President Obama did seem to suggest that there is some kind of a link between the settlement on Pakistan's western border and the Kashmir issue. Certainly that had caused concern," he told audience in a programme.

He was responding to reported suggestions by Obama during his campaign that Pakistan's fight against Taliban on the western front is linked to resolution of Kashmir issue.

The NSA pointed out that Obama made such references when he was in the campaign mode or when he was president-elect.

"We tend to sort of say lets wait and see what he does when he come into office," Narayanan said, adding "I don't think we had any major exchanges with members of the Obama administration later on" though the US President had made courtesy call and discussed bilateral ties.

"I do think that we could make President Obama understand, if he does have any such views then he is barking up the wrong tree," he said.

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No choice but to wait for Pak response: Pranab

India has "hardly" any choice except to patiently wait for Pakistan to respond to the dossier given on mumbai attacks, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Monday. "We won't get anything by simply losing our patience, so hardly we have a choice," Mukherjee said here at a function of a private news channel.
He was responding when asked how long India will wait for Pakistan's response to India's demands after the Mumbai terror strikes for which Pakistan-based elements have been blamed.

India gave the dossier of evidence on January 5 and has since been waiting for Pakistan to respond officially.

Pakistan has said it is investigating the matter and would get back to India as soon as it is over.

Queried on his status now since he is discharging duties of the Prime Minister, he said, "Simply I am discharging duties, neither I am officiating nor acting, neither de-jure nor de-facto".

He said under the Constitution of the country, there can be only one Prime Minister. But "the Prime Minister can delegate some responsibility to his colleagues and I am doing exactly that".

Replying to a query on whether he had any apprehension about the Nuclear Suppliers Group giving its waiver last year, the External Affairs Minister suggested that he was not sure till it happened.

"Unless it (deal) was done, to be very frank, I was not convinced that we will be able to succeed. It was done only after the NSG waiver came on September 6," said Mukherjee who had remained awake virtually through the night as the 45-nation grouping deliberated on the issue in Vienna till early morning of September 6.

To a question on which of the many GoMs headed by him (Mukherjee) will have any lasting impact on the country, the external affairs minister said he does not take anything to his credit.

"Because in our system, we do everything in consultation and collectively. So success and failure have to be shared collectively," he said.

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26/11 probe report ready; will share findings: Pakistan

Responding to India’s External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s comments that Pakistan is unresponsive over 26/11 mumbai terror strike investigation, Pakistan’s External Affairs Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that the investigation report is ready.
"The Federal Investigation Agency of the Interior Ministry of Pakistan has completed the preliminary investigation and sent (its report) to the Law Department," Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told reporters here after addressing a conference at the International Islamic University.
He went on to add that the report will be sent to India and other countries soon.

After a review by the Law Department, the report on the preliminary investigation will be received by the Foreign Ministry and then it will be shared with India and the international community, he said.
"Pakistan has assured India and the world community that it is seriously making progress in the process of investigating the Mumbai attacks and wants to bring the culprits to justice," Qureshi said, adding Pakistan wants peace in the region and good relations with its neighbours.
He said Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik met Home Minister P Chidambaram today and updated him on the latest developments regarding the investigation into the Mumbai attacks.
Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon had on January five handed over to High Commissioner Malik in new delhi the dossier containing evidence, which included confession of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone Pakistani terrorist held during the Mumbai attacks.
Qureshi said Pakistan has always condemned terrorism and extremism in all its forms anywhere in the world and it had been promoting the message of peace and brotherhood.
Pakistan does not want confrontation with anyone in the region as it wants to concentrate on its economic development and strengthening its democratic process, he said.
The country wants to promote the message of peace, love and tolerance and concentrate on trade, he said.
Referring to reports of threat to High Commissioner Malik, Qureshi said the issue was taken up with the Indian government and he had now been provided additional security.

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Pak must ensure 26/11-like attacks don't recur: McCain

Washington, Jan 29: Pakistan should take steps that reduce the threat of a reccurence of Mumbai-like terrorist attacks, US Republican Presidential candidate for the 2008 election, John McCain, has said.
"This is what would satisfy the United States," McCain told at the conclusion of a Senate Committee hearing on the Mumbai terrorist attack at the Capitol Hill here.

"To satisfy the US ... Well actions that clearly indicate they have reduced the threat of their reoccurrence (of Mumbai terrorist attacks)," McCain said, when asked what actions of Pakistan would be satisfactory to the United States.

"I think that there are variety of reasons that argue for the arrest of the people who are responsible (for the attack) and the terrorist's organisations," he said.

Referring to the testimony by experts at Senate Committee hearing on Mumbai attack, McCain said it should be a very high priority to prevent heightening of tension between the two South Asian neighbours.

"I agree with the witness that it is very high priority to prevent heightening of tension between the two countries and the United States should do everything we can to prevent escalation of tensions," McCain said.

Earlier during the hearing McCain said the Mumbai terror attack was "well orchestrated, well trained and well planned" and had outdone security forces until commandos showed up.

"They were not necessarily suicide individuals, they were able with just handful of people to hit 10 targets... I think there are a whole lot of lessons... that may be we have not paid much attention to," he said.

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Pak incapable of action against terror: Pranab

As it awaits a concrete response from Pakistan on steps taken against perpetrators of Mumbai terror attacks, India has raised questions on whether the government in Islamabad was deliberately not taking action against terrorists or incapable of doing so.

"Yes, one way you can make a differentiation that they are deliberately not doing or are incapable of doing. But as far as India is concerned, the net impact is the same ... the perpetrators are launching terror attacks from the territory of Pakistan," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.

"The infrastructural facilities there (are) used by them (for) committing crimes in India, not necessarily in this case but in a large number of cases in the past," he said in an interview with Al Jazeera news channel.

Mukherjee said India expects the Pakistan government to act against the perpetrators of terror acts operating from Pakistani soil.

"We expect Pakistan to act. Whatever is to be done from our side we are doing so ... but Pakistan has to act because the handlers and planners (of Mumbai attacks) were from Pakistan," he said.

Mukherjee said India expects three things from Pakistan -- dismantle terror infrastructural facilities, take strong action against perpetrators of terror attacks and look for fugitives of Indian law who have committed crime in India and taken shelter in Pakistan.

Pakistan cannot shrug its responsibilities to the international community, Mukherjee said when pointed out that several areas in the neighbouring country were out of control of the government there.

"Every country is responsible to protect its territory, to protect its citizens and also to ensure that its territory is not misused by miscreants to cause trouble in neighbouring countries," he said.

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Pakistan's report on 26/11 terror attacks in 10 days

Acknowledging that the dossier on Mumbai attacks given by India contained "leads and good clues", Pakistan on Saturday promised fair investigation even if its citizens are suspected and said its results will be shared with New Delhi first.

Pakistan said it wanted to have an approach of "cooperative engagement" with India as war is no solution to the problem of terrorism which is a global phenomenon.

"Quite a lot of material" was provided by India and the Pakistani investigators will work to convert this into "evidence that can stand up to judicial scrutiny", Interior Ministry chief Rahman Malik told a press conference in Islamabad.

No case regarding the Mumbai attacks has been registered so far in Pakistan. "If prima facie evidence is available on record, we will then convert it into a criminal case," Malik said, adding the time needed for any prosecution would depend on the judiciary.

He said the three-member counter-terror team, probing the Mumbai attack and examining the Indian dossier, has been directed to submit its preliminary findings within 10 days. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the interior ministry is examining India's dossier on the Mumbai attacks that was handed over to Pakistan on January 5.

"We have said that after examining the dossier, completing our investigation and examining information from other sources, we will share our findings with India first," Qureshi said.

Pakistan will pursue an approach of "cooperative engagement" to deal with any further questions that may arise with regard to the Mumbai incident, he said.

Qureshi said if "any individual or entity linked to Pakistan" is found involved in the Mumbai attacks, the government will take action against them according to the country's law.

Replying to a question in his hometown of Multan, he said the Mumbai incident was not a matter confined to India and Pakistan as nationals of several countries, including the US and Britain, were killed in the attacks.

"We have been successful in conveying our stand that war is not the solution and that terrorism is a global and regional phenomenon. We need a regional approach," he said. "We don't want to create war hysteria.

The political and military leadership has made measured comments and we will stick to this. We will remain vigilant and it is our endeavour to de-escalate and defuse the situation," Qureshi added.

He, however, alleged that there was "no consistency" in India's stance in dealing with the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks.

"There is no consistency in India's stance," Qureshi said, referring to what he described as flip-flops by New Delhi on matters like the involvement of the Pakistani state and its institutions in the Mumbai attacks and the prosecution of suspects.

He accused that Indian leaders had changed their position after initially stating that the Pakistan government and its institutions were not involved in the incident. He also said they had made a shift after stating that any Pakistani individuals linked to the attacks could be tried within the country.

"You can see the changes. Pakistan's stand is strong and consistent we honestly want to get to the bottom of the matter and the elements involved should be unmasked. The perpetrators should be brought to justice," Qureshi said. MORE PTI RHL ZH 01172142 DELHI NNNN

PRI GEN INT Meanwhile, Malik said that Pakistan was not acting under pressure from India and will not accept "dictation" from anyone regarding the probe.

Asked about British Foreign Secretary David Miliband's comments yesterday that Pakistan needs to go "farther and faster" in prosecuting those involved in the Mumbai attacks, Malik said: "We will not accept anyone's instructions to do things faster."

Malik outlined the terms of reference and guidelines for the investigating team, which was directed to conduct "a transparent and legally tenable inquiry". The team will "establish legally verifiable credentials of suspects allegedly involved in the terrorist attack".

It would "inquire into the available information supplied by India with the view to transforming (it) into evidence for further legal action". It will also collect "all other related evidence for legal action according to the law of Pakistan".

Malik said all further action would be taken according to Pakistani laws, virtually ruling out the handing over of any suspects linked to the Mumbai attacks to India.

He reiterated Pakistan's demand for a joint probe into the incident, saying: "Our investigators must interact. If you want good and quick results, please allow your investigators to interact with us."

He said the "best course of action" would be for investigators from both sides to interact and share information because terrorists are the "common enemies" of India and Pakistan.

Malik also assured the world community and Indian authorities that Pakistan is "very serious in its commitments" to bring the perpetrators of the attacks to justice. "We are with India and...we are doing everything possible to bring the suspects, militants and terrorists to justice," he said.

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Can’t believe Pak govt unaware of 26/11 plot:India

India on Monday handed over the dossier of evidence to Pakistan proving the involvement of elements in that country in the Mumbai carnage. Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said that not only was the conspiracy behind the attacks hatched in the neighbouring country but it was hard to believe that no one in the administration was aware about it.
Addressing the media here, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said that now that India had provided evidence, Pakistan should extend all its assistance to bring the perpetrators to Indian justice.

Observing that the investigation into the serial terror attacks in mumbai were not over, the Foreign Secretary said while the crime was committed in India, the conspiracy was hatched in Pakistan.
"Hence we have requested Pakistan to fulfil her commitments to us," he said.
' Act now '
“India has asked Pakistan to investigate the evidence material given to it on the Mumbai terror attacks and extend legal assistance so that the perpetrators could be brought to justice,” Menon said.
Menon pointed out that the investigation and the evidence it produced has led India to believe that the kind of operation undertaken in Mumbai couldn’t have been planned without someone being in the know.
“Conspiracy behind the crime (in Mumbai) was hatched in Pakistan and hence India has requested Pakistan to fulfil its commitments,” Menon said.
' Not interested in mechanisms '
India hopes that Pakistan will not "repeat the previous pattern" of not cooperating when India shared evidence regarding the attack on Indian Embassy in Kabul, Menon said.
”We don’t want any mechanisms. There are ample mechanisms under SAARC etc. We want actions, not words,” he said.
Legal assistance from Pakistan extends up to and includes extradition (of perpetrators of Mumbai attacks), he said on being asked if India had asked Pakistan to hand-over the accused to it.
He also rubbished the ‘non-state-actors theory.
Ban on JuD ineffective
India also alleged that the ban on Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the parent organisation of LeT- was not working. “Their website is still being updated. We have not been told officially that action is being taken against terror organisations. India is not impressed,” Menon emphasised.
He also pointed out that banning of terror organisations had taken ion the past, but to no avail.
Our goals are clear. We want the perpetrators to be brought to Indian justice, he added.
Lobbying world-over
He also revealed that India was actively lobbying with all friendly countries around the world so that concrete action is taken against terrorists in Pakistan.
“We have begun the process of briefing foreign countries. Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee has written to his counterparts around the world about the evidence. We have today held special briefings for the ambassadors of those countries whose nationals were killed in Mumbai,” he said.
He informed that India had shared the evidence with China.
"This is a threat to the international community and not India”, that is why we are putting forth the evidence, Menon added.

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Mumbai attackers had links to Pakistani soil: US

Stating it was "clear" that the Mumbai attackers had "links that lead to Pakistani soil", senior US diplomat Richard Boucher Monday evening said Pakistan and India should cooperate in the probe into the carnage as each possessed "pieces of the puzzle" that could help find the perpetrators.
While urging the South Asian neighbours to cooperate in the probe, the US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia said, "Each side has pieces of the puzzle and they need to be known to each other."

"The two sides need to exchange information. People have to work with each other," Boucher said at a press conference at the US embassy, Geo TV reported.
The US diplomat arrived here early Monday for talks with the Pakistani leadership in a bid to defuse the tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad sparked by the 26/11 attacks in which more than 170 people, including 26 foreigners, were killed.
India Monday handed over to Islamabad evidence linking the terrorists behind the attacks to elements in Pakistan, which Boucher described as a positive step.
Boucher said it was "clear that the attackers had links that lead to Pakistani soil".
He also said Pakistan's crackdown on the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, a charity with links to the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), showed the country's "commitment to eliminate sources of terrorism on Pakistani soil".
"There is determination here to follow up and find the groups that are responsible so they never do it again," he said.
Boucher is to go to India for meetings with leaders in New Delhi.

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Pak must follow the leads given by India: Boucher

Pakistan must follow the leads given by India and track down the perpetrators. This is US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher's clear and strong message to the Pakistani government after his meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Foreign Minister Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Speaking at the American Embassy in Islamabad, Boucher said, "It was clear that the attackers had links that lead to Pakistani soil. The US wants Pakistan to investigate the information provided by India, follow available leads and track down perpetrators so that similar attacks do not occur in the future. India and Pakistan both had "pieces of the puzzle".
Richard Boucher's statement came just hours after New Delhi handed over evidence on the Mumbai attacks to Pakistan. Boucher who is scheduled to be in New delhi on Wednesday also said America had a direct interest in the probe as six of its citizens were killed in the Mumbai attacks and wants those responsible to be found.
In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Pakistan's Information Minister Sherry Rahman has confirmed that Pakistan had received the evidence and would carry out an investigation.
Media reports in Pakistan are quoting government sources as saying that a joint investigative committee would be formed to look into the evidences that New delhi has handed over to Islamabad.
According to sources, the committee would look closely into places, telephone numbers and Internet Protocols addresses pointed out in evidences.
The committee would also form the future course of action after carrying out a preliminary enquiry.

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India compiling evidence to share with Pak, rest of world

As Islamabad continues to be in denial mode, India is compiling evidence about the role of Pakistan-based elements in the terror strikes for sharing it with the world besides the neighbour very soon.

The evidence, being put together, includes the confession of the lone terrorist held in Mumbai terror attack Ajmal Amir Qasab, logbook recovered from the vessel in which the 10 terrorists came from Karachi, records of satellite phone used by the attackers and transcript of conversations between the attackers and their handlers in Pakistan, the sources said.

The dossier will also include the corroborative evidence tracking the journey of the attackers from Karachi to Mumbai, they said.

The evidence will mostly include Qasab's confession to the police wherein he has given details of how he became a motivated terrorist of Lashkar-e-Taiba from a normal youth of Faridkot in 741Pakistan's Punjab province.

Investigators have found evidence to show that the terrorists, who struck at the Taj Hotel, Trident Hotel and Nariman House on November 26, were in touch with their handlers in Karachi even while their three-day engagement with security forces was on.

As the armed engagement was being telecast live by Indian TV channels, the LeT commanders in Pakistan were found giving directions to the attackers like 'set ablaze the hotel' and 'throw grenades' on the crowds outside the hotels and Nariman House.

The evidence will be shared with Pakistan along with the US, UK, China and other countries which have influence on Islamabad.

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US for Mumbai suspects' trial in Pak: Report

A day after External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee asked Pakistan to hand over the 26/11 perpetrators for which an extradition treaty is not required, a Pak media report on Friday claimed that the US administration, instead, is in favour of a trial in Pakistan itself.

According to Dawn News, the Bush administration has asked Islamabad to put on trial the perpetrators of Mumbai terror attacks inside Pakistan instead of extraditing them to India, signifying a change in the US’ position which earlier sought extradition of Mumbai terror suspects to India.

The sources told Dawn that the US has made Pakistan acquainted of its willingness to initiate “prosecution with sufficient efforts to ensure conviction”.

However, last week, the US had asked Pakistan to extradite those responsible for the November 26 Mumbai terror attacks to India.

According to the report, the US changed its mind after it comprehended the difficulties the Pakistani government would face in extraditing key Lashkar-e-Toiba leaders to India, chiefly when the two sides are not bound to an extradition treaty.

Notably, the reports in Pakistani media came after Mukherjee told reporters that the US pressure on Pakistan to act against perpetrators had “not produced tangible returns”.

Mukherjee has ruled out the requirement of an extradition treaty for handing over the suspects as Pakistan is party to various international conventions and arrangements starting from SAARC to various international conventions against taking hostages, conventions against bombings.

Mukherjee also told media that India has been told that “there is some strong evidence available with FBI and they have shared it with Pakistan. We expect that Pakistan will act on them and hand over the perpetrators of terror attack in Mumbai to us.”

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India, Pakistan exchange lists of nuclear installations

India and Pakistan on Thursday exchanged lists of their nuclear installations under an agreement aimed at preventing attacks on each other's atomic facilities inspite of prevailing tension in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks.

The Foreign Office handed over a list of Pakistan's nuclear installations and facilities to an official of the Indian High Commission at 11.00 am here.

In New Delhi, the Indian side handed over its list to an official of the Pakistan High Commission at the External Affairs Ministry.

The two sides also exchanged fresh lists of prisoners being held in each other's jails, officials said.

The exchange of lists of atomic facilities is done on January 1 every year under the "Agreement between India and Pakistan on Prohibition of Attack Against Nuclear Installations and Facilities", which was signed in 1988 and ratified in 1991.

Officials from both sides had earlier said that the tension sparked by the Mumbai terror attacks would not affect the exchange of the nuclear lists, which is done as routine every year.

According to the agreement signed on December 31, 1988, Pakistan and India have to inform each other on January 1 every year about the nuclear installations and facilities to be covered by the pact.

Islamabad and New Delhi had exchanged lists of prisoners being held in each other's jail but both sides had subsequently expressed reservations about these lists. During talks here between home secretaries of the two countries in November, they agreed to exchange fresh lists of prisoners.

Further details about the number of prisoners being held in the two countries were not immediately available.

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Pak must act on proof given by FBI : Pranab

Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee, in an exclusive interview to NDTV, said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has strong evidence that they have shared with Pakistan.

He said Pakistan should act on the evidence provided by the FBI and handover perpetrators of Mumbai to India.

Pranab said that an extradition treaty is not needed to handover perpetrators.

He further said that the US pressure has not had tangible results.

An FBI team, late on Wednesday night, visited Faridkot in Pakistan's Punjab province to investigate about Ajmal Amir Iman Qasab, the lone terrorist captured during the Mumbai attacks. Qasab hails from the Faridkot area.

The five-member team of the FBI was headed by its South Asian Director William Robert, Geo TV reported. According to sources, the purpose of the FBI team's visit was to investigate about Qasab, it said.

The channel had, however, claimed without quoting anyone that according to the FBI team, it found no evidence.

Qasab's father recently admitted in an interview to the Dawn newspaper that the gunman whose picture was beamed around the world by the media was his son.

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Banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa planning to change name?

Is Pakistan-based Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), front organisation of Lashkar-e-Taiba, preparing to reincarnate under a new name in the wake of a ban clamped on it by the UN Security Council for its involvement in Mumbai terror attacks?

According to sources here, JuD may be planning to rename itself as 'Tehreek-e-Hurmat-e-Rasool' (Movement for defending the honour of God) to avoid restrictions which Pakistan could be forced to impose on it because of UNSC sanctions.

The indication that JuD may be thinking of changing its name came as some senior cadres of the outfit recently organised a rally in Pakistan under the banner of Tehreek-e-Hurmat-e-Rasool (THR), the sources said.

In fact, JuD itself is a reincarnation of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) after the latter was banned by the US seven years ago.

Formed in 1990 in Kunar province of Afghanistan, LeT does not believe in democracy and Saeed, its founder leader, has publicly declared it several times that 'jihad' is the "only way Pakistan can move towards dignity and prosperity".

India feels that Pakistan is using 'jihadis' as "one of the arms of diplomacy" and due to this reason, it is not taking any action except "tokenism" against JuD despite the UNSC ban imposed on December 11 in the wake of November 26 Mumbai attacks.

New Delhi contends that JuD continues to engage in various kinds of activities under the garb of education and "so-called charities", with Islamabad turning a blind eye to it in "flagrant violation" of international law.

In this context, the sources said the headquarters of JuD or LeT in Muridke near Lahore continues to be functional.

JuD chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, who is supposedly under house arrest, is said to be freely moving about though in a restricted manner escaping the media gaze, the sources said.

India is peeved at the special treatment being meted out to Saeed by Pakistan, contending that he should be put in a regular prison rather than "so-called house arrest" since he has been accused of involvement in heinous crimes.

Pakistan has also not imposed any restrictions on publication of magazines and other literature by JuD, despite these activities being prohibited by the UNSC resolution, the sources said.

"There is anything but compliance with the UNSC resolution by Pakistan," they said.

The UNSC could be approached to highlight how Pakistan is disregarding its resolution but there is a view in Delhi that reasonable time should be given before this option is utilised.

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India rejects 'escalation' charge, asks Pak to do more

Rejecting Pakistan's contentions, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Tuesday that there had been no escalation of tensions on the part of India and that its military movements were routine winter exercises.

Telling Pakistan that "there is no need of creating an atmosphere or some sort of hysteria", the minister said that there was no tension as was borne by the fact that India was releasing some 67 Pakistanis detained for visa violations.

Moreover, like in the past, India and Pakistan will be exchanging information on nuclear confidence building measures on the New Year's Day, he told a news agency here. Mukherjee was clear about what India wants from Pakistan--dismantling of terrorist camps, taking action against those involved in terror attacks and handing over of fugitives of Indian laws like the chief of the banned Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) Masood Azhar.

Disagreeing with suggestions that India should recall its High Commissioner from Pakistan and put economic squeeze on Pakistan, he said while it cannot be "business as usual" with Islamabad, "I do feel still we should continue to put pressure diplomatically through international community to achieve our objectives."

About the investigation into the Mumbai terror attack, Mukherjee said that these were in the final stages and will be shared with Pakistan and others, Mukherjee said.

The minister told Pakistan, "Please fulfil your commitments and do the job you are expected to do."

Pakistan, he emphasised, will have to act on the evidence India gives to it. "And there has to be credible evidence that they are acting on it," he added.

He recalled that way back in January, 2004 the then President Pervez Musharraf and more recently President Asif Ali Zardari had given commitments Pakistan's territory would not be allowed to be used by terrorists against India.

"We are only asking that you fulfil these commitments you have made. Kindly dismantle the infrastructural facilities, dismantle the camps...upto now we have not seen any such thing," the External Affairs Minister said.

Pakistan, he emphasised, will have to act on evidence India gives to it. "And there has to be credible evidence that they are acting on it."

While maintaining his stand that India was keeping all options open, the External Affairs Minister recalled that he had stated in Parliament that war was not a solution.

India would continue to put pressure on Pakistan through diplomacy and "we would like to see what is the final outcome of it".

Refuting suggestions that diplomatic efforts had failed, Mukherjee said that New Delhi had been able to create awareness all over the world. "We shall have to make these efforts, howsoever strenuous they may be....we shall have to build up the pressure on Pakistan."

Mukherjee said Pakistan continued to be in denial mode and as of now India has not seen any action on its part on its demands. "If simply they deny and go into denial mode how does it help," he asked.

Asked about the number of terrorist camps in Pakistan, the minister disclosed that "the latest information" given by India to that country shows that the number was 30 plus.

"Sometimes they change their names, sometimes they change their locations but the persons are the same."

When asked if India would be satisfied by the Pakistan government putting to trial the fugitives it wanted, Mukherjee remarked that even the probe into the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was not handed over to Pakistani authorities but to the UN.

"The question is how to address the terrorist activities that are hurting us and which are emanating from Pakistan... The question is how they can fulfill their own commitment," Mukherjee said.

"The crux of the issue is that the problem (of cross-border terrorism) has to be addressed and the sooner they do it, better it is for them and for us," he said.

Mukherjee particularly referred to Masood Azhar and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), front organisation of Lashkar-e-Taiba, and said that Pakistan should act against them in a convincing way.

On Azhar, the External Affairs Minister said the JeM chief was linked to internationally-recognised serious offence of hijacking but Pakistan was not handing him over despite his being "visible" in that country.

Instead of handing him over to India as per the international law, Pakistan was indulging in contradictions by first saying he had been put under house arrest and later denying his presence in Pakistan.

Similar was the approach on sending Director General of ISI to India in connection with probe into Mumbai attacks, a promise on which Pakistan went back, he pointed out.

Regarding JuD, which was banned by Pakistan after UN Security Council imposed sanctions on the outfit earlier this month, Mukherjee questioned how the group was still active, even for charitable works, despite the "ban".

Rejecting Pakistan's contention, he said there was no tension from Indian side because it does not consider the attacks in Mumbai and other places being linked to Indo-Pak ties.

"We are suggesting you (Pakistan) fulfill these commitments you have made (of dismantling terror camps). When these things are adequately addressed, I think what we are asking for will be responded.

"But upto now, we have not seen any such thing. Rather, what we have seen is an attempt to divert attention to create tension," Mukherjee said, asking Pakistan to "do the job you are expected to do".

Asserting that India has not created any tension, he said New Delhi has made it clear to the international community as well that it has no intention to create tension.

To a question on India reaching out to Pakistan's allies China and Saudi Arabia besides the US and others, he said New Delhi is in touch with the international community as part of its efforts to build pressure on Islamabad.

On Pakistan government's problems in meeting India's demands because of army and ISI, he said he would not like to comment on the complex situation prevailing in Pakistan.

"I am concerned only with the results. Whoever is responsible. In conversation with one of my interlocutors, I told him when there is a military ruler in Pakistan, we have attack on Parliament. When there is a democratic government in Pakistan, we have attack on Mumbai, unprecedented in its ferocity and audacity.

"Therefore, where is the respite. Internal politics of Pakistan, let it remain there, and let them handle it the way they want to. We want that in our relationship it should not be strained because of these elements. appropriate actions should be taken against them," he said.

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Pak tones down war rhetoric, favours ‘friendly ties’

Facing the heat from the US and other major countries, Pakistan on Monday toned down the war rhetoric and talked of the need to "de-escalate and avoid conflict".

In his first public statement since the Mumbai terror attack, Kayani, the Chief of Army, which is believed to have huge influence over affairs of the state in Pakistan, backed moves for de-escalation of tensions with India.

A brief military statement was issued after Kayani met Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei, who was dispatched here by Beijing to help ease the Indo-Pak stand-off, at the Army Headquarters in Rawalpindi near here.

"The Chief of Army Staff highlighted the need to de-escalate and avoid conflict in the interest of peace and security in the region," the statement said.

Pakistan's civilian leadership also continued its 'no war' stance, with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani voicing opposition to any military action.

"We have never wanted war with anybody... We also want that our soil should not be used for terrorism," Gilani said as international pressure mounted on the country to avoid confrontation with India in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks.

During a meeting with visiting Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister He Yafie, dispatched by Beijing to Islamabad to help reduce regional tensions, Gilani reiterated Pakistan's "firm resolve for maintaining good relations with all its neighbours".

Gilani said only "elements inimical to cordial Pakistan-India ties and terrorists had benefited from the situation that evolved" after the Mumbai incident. Pakistan desires the de-escalation of tensions and is hopeful its stance will be reciprocated by the Indian leadership, he added.

Stressing that there could be no parallel centres of power in the country, Gilani described Pakistan as a "responsible and peaceful" nuclear state and said it wanted good relations with its neighbours.

"We don't want any parallel government in the country and don't want the writ of the government be challenged," he said at the campus of the National University of Science and Technology here, without elaborating who he was referring to.

The US and UK have pressed Pakistan to take concrete action against those responsible for the November 26 Mumbai terror attacks. New Delhi has asked China, Saudi Arabia and Iran to use their influence on Islamabad to rein in terrorists operating from Pakistan.

The statements by Pakistani military and civilian leadership came as an Army spokesman confirmed that the two countries had been in touch through the Director General of Military Operations and this apparently had helped lower the tensions.

The DGMOs usually make contact on Tuesday on a routine basis but they spoke to each other over the weekend in an "extraordinary move", 'The News' daily quoted a top military official as saying.

"That was only possible with the consent of top military leaders of both the countries. Apparently, this helped lower the tension," the official said.

The DGMOs made contact after Pakistani officials said thousands of troops had been moved from the militant-infested northwestern tribal areas to the Indian border and leave had been cancelled for soldiers.

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Pak has not done enough: Western diplomats

The US and Britain have provided Pakistan evidence of the involvement of elements within the country in the Mumbai terror attacks but western diplomats believe Islamabad has "not done enough" in terms of acting on the intelligence.

In the wake of the Mumbai attacks, British and American investigators amassed a large amount of technical and human intelligence that was subsequently passed on to Pakistan, Western diplomatic sources told a news agency.

Sleuths from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, who were given access to Amjal Amir Iman, the lone gunman captured during the attacks, were convinced he is a Pakistani national and that the terrorist strike was planned and coordinated by elements in Pakistan.

However, the diplomatic sources said they believed that the Pakistan government had not acted adequately on the evidence provided to it.

"The Pakistani authorities have not done enough on the intelligence shared with them," said a source.

The sources said the most clinching evidence on the involvement of Pakistani elements was provided by the British authorities. In fact, British intelligence operatives were so convinced of the Pakistani links to the attack that they did not take up an offer to question Iman alias Ajmal Kasab, sources said.

The US and British authorities have handed over intercepts of satellite and mobile conversations between the attackers in Mumbai and Pakistan-based elements who were guiding them.

Among the Pakistani handlers was Lashker-e-Taiba's operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, who was detained during a raid by the military in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on December 7. Lakhvi's current whereabouts are not known.

Western intelligence agencies have backed India's contention that Lakhvi planned and coordinated the November 26 attacks in Mumbai.

American investigators also played a key role in extracting details of calls made by the terrorists in Mumbai to their LeT handlers in Pakistan by using sophisticated technology to examine burnt and damaged cellular phones. These phones, which were damaged in gun battles between the terrorists and security forces, were provided to the FBI team by Indian law enforcement agencies, they said.

However, a report in a newspaper today quoted Pakistani intelligence sources as saying that the intelligence shared by the Western powers was not evidence that would "stand up in court".

They claimed Iman's confession could have been "obtained under duress" and is "not admissible in a trial". Thus the confession could not be the "basis of any proceedings against (Iman) or others from Pakistan".

The shared intelligence formed the basis of actions taken so far by Pakistan but it could not "be described as evidence", the sources claimed.

"If Islamabad is to put any Pakistani citizen on trial for the Mumbai attacks, it will require a list of Indian witnesses and their statements as well as all technical material, such as computer drives and mobile phones recovered from the alleged terrorists from Pakistan," the report said.

The report further claimed that "India's problem" is that it could not share evidence with Pakistan because of "inconsistencies in Indian public accounts" of the attacks and "the fact that some of the attackers and their local support network could have come from within India.”

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No ultimatum given to Pakistan: Pranab

Calling for demolition of terror camps operating on Pakistani soil, India on Sunday reminded the neighbouring country of its commitment not to allow terrorist activities, but said no ultimatum has been given to Islamabad to act.

Stating that Pakistan had made a commitment that it would not allow its territory to be used for terrorist activities, External Affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee asked Islamabad to take steps and demolish terrorist camps there.

Denying any ultimatum being set for Pakistan to act, he said, "no ultimatum was set. There is no question of any ultimatum. Nobody has set any ultimatum."

Asserting that India would share whatever information Pakistan required once investigations were over, Mukherjee said Pakistan should admit that the terrorists involved in the Mumbai terrorist attack came from there.

"If all these things are done, then there is no problem at all," he said.

He said "not once, but twice Pakistan had made a commitment. Once by Musharraf and now by President Zardari. Where is the commitment? Where is the action against terrorists?" Mukherjee asked.

"We have evidence and gave the names, not once but ten times. Pakistan had earlier accepted that the perpetrators of Mumbai attack emanated from there. But now they are contradicting it," Mukherjee said here.

Regretting Pakistan's U-turn on Maulana Masood Azhar's arrest, he said "the Pakistan defence minister had earlier said that the Jaish chief was under house arrest.

"Now some others say he is not in Pakistan. who is telling the truth? It is Pakistan which has to tell that," Mukherjee said.

Stating that he had spoken to the foreign ministers of the US, Saudi Arabia and China, the minister said "merely creating war hysteria without taking any action would not serve any purpose."

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