Author:
Publication: Free Press Journal
Date: February 13, 2009
After admitting that there was local support
for the Mumbai terror attack - something Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi
also hinted at - city Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor on Thursday night backtracked
on his claim that some Indian nationals were among the 16 men wanted for their
role in the carnage.
When asked by reporters how many more were
still wanted in connection with 26/11 shortly after Pakistan gave its first
formal response to the Indian dossier, Gafoor said, "Fourteen to sixteen
men, including Indians and Pakistanis, are wanted in the attacks." In
an apparent damage control exercise, Gafoor quickly clarified his stand claiming
that 16 Pakistanis were involved in the 26/11 strikes of whom nine had been
killed while one terrorist - Ajmal Kasab - was captured and six others were
still wanted. The six Pakistanis included Lashkar-e-Taiba commander and suspected
26/11 mastermind Zaki-ur Rahman Lakhvi and Zarar Shah, he said. "Why
should we talk to Pakistan about Indians," Gafoor said while backtracking
on his earlier remarks. Gafoor had also said that two Indians have already
been arrested in this connection, a reference to Fahim Ansari and Sahabuddin,
who hail from Uttar Pradesh. Maharashtra Home Minister Jayant Patil also came
out with a statement saying thus far there is no evidence of any local support
in the attack. Chidambaram, when asked to comment on Modi's remark that the
Mumbai terror attacks would not have been possible without support from locals,
had said: "You should ask Narendra Modi whether he and Pakistan are in
contact with each other." On Tuesday night, Modi said he was quoted out
of context. "I meant to say that if Pakistan executed such a massive
operation then it would not have been possible without a local recce. There
must have been some networking. The Indian Government should also probe that
angle," Modi said. Reacting to Chidambaram's remarks, Modi hit back,
asking him what kind of "friendship" he has with Pakistan that the
Centre has not completed fencing work on Gujarat border.
