Suo Motu Statement by the external affairs minister in Parliament
I rise to inform the House of developments since this House last considered theaftermath of the dastardly terrorist attack on Mumbai. On December 12, 2008 thisHouse resolved, in a solemn Resolution that: "India shall not cease in herefforts until the terrorists and those who have trained, funded and abetted themare exposed and brought to justice".
2. Through the months of December, January and February, we have continued touse all means available and heightened our diplomatic activity to achieve thegoals set for us, namely, to bring the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks onMumbai to book, and to seek credible steps by Pakistan to ensure that therewould no recurrence of such attacks.
3. The Mumbai attacks were a crime committed on India, the conspiracy for whichwas hatched, planned and organized in Pakistan. In our diplomatic effort, wemade it clear to Pakistan and the international community:
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- Firstly, that the terrorist attack on Mumbai again underlines the grave threat that terrorism poses to peace and stability and therefore has to be seen in the context of the global challenge of terrorism. Terrorism emanating from Pakistan is of course a direct threat to India, but it is equally a regional and a global threat.
- Secondly, from our investigations the evidence was conclusive that the attack was planned, executed and launched from Pakistan territory, by Pakistanis and by elements based in Pakistan. The primary onus of responsibility lies on Pakistan to fully unveil the conspiracy, identify those guilty and act in a transparent and verifiable manner.
- Thirdly, Mumbai was by no means the first or only terrorist attack on India linked to the infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan. Nonetheless, with Mumbai a threshold was crossed and it was imperative that Pakistan act credibly against that infrastructure to prevent further attacks.
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4. By early January our investigations had progressed to the point where thedetails could be shared with the international community and specificinformation, material and leads could be provided to the Government of Pakistan.On the 5th of January we conveyed to the Government of Pakistan material linkingthe Mumbai attack of 26-29 November, 2008 to elements in Pakistan. Thisincluded:
- Material from the interrogation of Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the Pakistani national who is in police custody.
- Details of the terrorists’ communication links with elements in Pakistan during the Mumbai attack.
- Details of recovered weapons, equipment and other articles.
- Data retrieved from recovered GPS and satellite phones used by the terrorists.
5. A full dossier of the Mumbai attack was also prepared and forwarded to all mycounterpart Foreign Ministers. At the same time detailed briefings for allresident Heads of Missions in New Delhi were organised in the Ministry ofExternal Affairs.
6. In our diplomatic exchanges, we conveyed our expectation that the Governmentof Pakistan promptly undertake further investigations in Pakistan and share theresults with us so as to bring the perpetrators to justice, and that Pakistanwould implement her bilateral, multilateral and international obligations toprevent terrorism in any manner from territory under her control.
7. It may be useful to recapitulate that this was the fourth formal and officialcommunication that we had addressed to the Government of Pakistan on this issue.I had spoken on the telephone to the Foreign Minister of Pakistan on 28November, 2008, when he was still in India. That conversation was followed upand formalized in writing on the 29th (the next day) morning in the form of aspeaking note. Secondly, on 1st December 2008 a formal demarche was made to theGovernment of Pakistan. Thirdly, on the 22nd December 2008, a letter from thePakistani terrorist in our custody was officially forwarded to the PakistanGovernment. And fourthly, on 5th January 2009 the dossier, with details Imentioned earlier, was given to the Government of Pakistan.
8. Pakistan’s Response: Hon. Members are aware of the prevarication, denial,diversionary tactics and misplaced sense of victimhood which characterizedPakistan’s reaction from early days after the Mumbai attack. Pakistan’spolitical leadership did condemn the terrorist attack and promised us fullcooperation in investigating the conspiracy in Pakistan. I do not discount inany way either their intent or their sincerity, but the fact remains that theoverwhelming response of official Pakistan to the Mumbai attack was notappropriate to a terrorist attack where innocents were massacred in cold blood.Throughout the attempt was to divert attention from the terrorist attack andPakistan’s responsibilities to other issues.
9. On 16 January, the Government of Pakistan informed us that some action hadbeen taken against the Jamat-ud-Dawa in pursuance to its being listed by the UNas a terrorist organisation. Some of its members were placed on the Exit ControlList, some arms licenses were cancelled, instructions issued to freeze theaccounts of JuD, some activists of JuD were arrested and certain JuDpublications were banned. We were also informed that with effect from 15thJanuary, 2009, the Government of Pakistan had launched a formal enquiry into theMumbai terrorist attack and that the Federal Investigation Agency had been giventhe responsibility of conducting the enquiry in accordance with the laws ofPakistan. Some details of the enquiry team were intimated to us.
10. In the afternoon of February 12, our High Commissioner in Pakistan wasinformed by the Pakistan Foreign Secretary of Pakistan’s response to thedossier of material that we had made available to Pakistan on January 5 linkingthe terrorist attacks on Mumbai to perpetrators in Pakistan. This is a positivedevelopment. In their official response, the Pakistan authorities have admittedthat elements in Pakistan were involved in the terrorist attacks on Mumbai. Theyare still in the process of investigating the attacks, and have taken certainactions including the arrest of some of those who were involved, and have fileda first information report in Pakistan.
11. Pakistan has also sought further information and material relating to theinvestigation. The Government of India will now examine the issues raised inPakistan’s response. After our examination, we will share whatever we can withPakistan.
12. Hon’ble Members will appreciate that Government has constantly been guidedby the two objective of ensuring that the perpetrators who planned, organisedand trained the terrorists in Pakistan are brought to justice, and that theinfrastructure of terrorism which exists in Pakistan is dismantled so that weprevent a recurrence of such attacks. The international community has alsoworked with us, using its influence on Pakistan to ensure that the terroristinfrastructure and the support provided to such elements is put to an end, sinceterrorism emanating out of Pakistan is a threat not only to us, but to theworld. We will continue to review the situation including Pakistan’s responsesand will take further steps that we deem necessary in order to protect ourpeople.
13. The threat of terrorism from Pakistan has emerged as a global menace andcancer. The major onus of responsibility to eliminate this threat rests on theGovernment of Pakistan. It is imperative that it act with sincerity and acteffectively against the licence that terrorist groups enjoy in its territory. Itis essential that the assurances given to us repeatedly at the highest level byPakistan leaders are implemented as solemn commitments.
14. Since the 1st of December, 2008, the Composite Dialogue process withPakistan has been at a pause. No meeting has taken place and neither are anyscheduled. It is also the case that the substantial gains in the process ofnormalization which were achieved in the last four or five years are at graverisk. As Members are aware, the dialogue and normalization process was premisedon commitments given by Pakistan that territory under its control would not beused for terrorism in any manner.
15. We are at a point in our relationship where the authorities in Pakistanitself have to choose the kind of relationship that they want with India in thefuture. Much depends on actions in the Mumbai case reaching their logicalconclusion. I must underline that we have no quarrel with the people ofPakistan. We wish them well and we do not think that they should be heldresponsible or face the consequences of this situation. We have, therefore,consciously, and after due deliberation, not thought it necessary or fit tocurtail people to people contacts, trains and road links.
