Daily Times

Here comes a new accused of the Mumbai attack, someone who is being considered a bigger catch then Amir Kasab. The talent-spotting Sayeed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal is an Indian carrying a Pakistani passport. He was deported from Saudi Arabia to New Delhi on June 21 on the charges of being an important player in the Mumbai attack. He is said to have been in the control room set up in Karachi, Pakistan, instructing the Mumbai attackers on November 26-29, 2008. He has confessed to the Delhi police of having more plans up his sleeve to accomplish the aims of Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT), his parent terrorist organisation. He was recruiting and training new volunteers in Saudi Arabia for some new feats when the concerted efforts of the US, Saudi Arabia and India, snuffed them out. He consummated the Mumbai attack by teaching the attackers Hindi so that their identity would remain shrouded. Abu Jundal acknowledged Hafiz Saeed’s and Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi’s involvement in the Mumbai attack as the main perpetrators. Zakiur Rehman is serving a sentence in Pakistan for the Mumbai attack, and according to Abu Jundal is actively involved, even from jail, in the planning and development of LeT’s missions. Jundal has been a member of the Indian Mujahideen, and was involved in a number of attacks carried out in India such as the attack on the Jamia Masjid in Delhi, the Chinnaswamy Stadium blast in Bangalore and the Mumbai train blast, etc.

As far as the Mumbai attack is concerned, India has been pointing accusing fingers at Pakistan but the emergence of one of its own citizens in the list of perpetrators would certainly demand some soul searching at home.

The Indian Home Ministry has again reterated its demand for Pakistan to bring the Mumbai attack masterminds to justice and to revamp its foreign policy to eliminate terror as a tool. This new development can obviously produce a new rift between the two neighbouring countries, who have hardly seen the ink dry on a series of agreements in the social, cultural and most importantly trade and economic spheres. In days to come, as more stories come out of Jundal, Pakistan might enter into another bout of protesting its innocence to India, the US and the world on the accusations against it of using terrorist proxies against its neighbours. Jundal has already taken the name of an ISI officer, allegedly involved in the execution of the Mumbai terror attack. Obviously the pressure to arrest Hafiz Saeed would mount, especially with fresh evidence coming from the horse’s mouth. Perhaps a new dossier would be given to Pakistan to bring Hafiz Saeed to book. Jundal has even confessed planning a new Mumbai-like attack in India.

The US has affirmed its collaboration in the arrest of Jundal and promised to keep assisting India in its hunt until all the people behind the Mumbai massacre are bought to justice. The US is already up in arms against Pakistan for having a soft corner for the terrorists. The Haqqani network saga has repeatedly been played whenever there is an attack in or around Kabul. If, as the Indians are already calling it, the Mumbai carnage turns out to be a state-sponsored attack, Pakistan would be in deep water. The US Congress, which is already hostile to Pakistan’s role in militancy, might turn off the aid tap as has been done earlier and recently in the case of Afridi’s arrest by Pakistan.

There is some soul-searching for Pakistan in the story. The perpetrator is deported from Saudi Arabia, a close friend of Pakistan. The question is why would Saudi Arabia help India against Pakistan? In this case, Saudi Arabia knows that all fingers are pointed at Pakistan. Tough times are again in for Pakistan on many fronts. For now, all talks with India have been stalled. India has even linked the reversal of Sarabjit Singh’s release order to the arrest of Jundal.

Standing on a precarious edge, it is time for Pakistan to apply a clear mind on terrorism and cleanse these Augean stables. *