Nailing a lie

There is more confirmation now of the Pakistani government’s involvement in the terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008 and that too straight from the horse’s mouth. Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian accused of assisting David Headley in carrying out the reconnaissance missions ahead of the 26/11 terrorist attacks, has implicated the Pakistani government and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for their role in the carnage.

He has pleaded that in providing assistance he had acted on ‘public authority’ at the behest of the Pakistani government and the ISI. Hitherto, links between Rana-Headley and the Pakistani government had been described in sections of the western media in rather loose terms, as a nexus between the duo and ‘rogue elements of the ISI,’ rather than with the ISI itself.

Rana’s disclosure now confirms that Rana and Headley had acted on the directions of the ISI and the Pakistani government and that the links were substantial. It confirms the allegations India has been levelling: the Pakistani government and the ISI did mastermind the attacks.

Rana’s revelations will embarrass several governments. Rana’s disclosure is a powerful indictment of the Pakistani government. The blame for 26/11 has been laid clearly at its doorstep, not just by India but by one of the key conspirators. The US, which is struggling to justify to its public its alliance with Pakistan will be hard pressed to defend its friend in the wake of the damning disclosure.

As for India, although Rana’s plea confirms its allegations, it will deal a blow to the Manmohan Singh government’s strategy of re-engaging the Pakistani government. Singh will come under pressure again to go slow on the dialogue with Pakistan. Bilateral relations which warmed perceptibly in recent weeks could cool again.

Rana’s disclosure notwithstanding, it is unlikely that the Pakistani government and the ISI will find themselves in the dock. The Chicago court has rejected Rana’s plea on the grounds that it is ‘objectively unreasonable,’ signalling that the US could ease the way for its ally, Pakistan, to slip off the hook.

Relations between the US and Pakistan seriously soured in the wake of the arrest and then release of suspected CIA spy Raymond Davies in Pakistan. At a time when Washington is desperately trying to mend ties with the Pakistani government, it does seem unlikely that the important issues raised by Rana’s revelations will be pursued honestly or energetically by the US government.