Hafiz Saeed supervised Mumbai attacks

Confirms state support for 26/11 attacks, says PC

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday said that Lashkar-e-Taiba’s founder Hafiz Saeed was present in the Karachi make-shift control room to supervise and direct 26/11 terror strike in Mumbai more than three years ago.

Despite the global pressure, the security situation remains the same as the LeT is extremely active to launch another attack on India, the minister said during a press conference.

The key LeT operative Syed Jabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, who was arrested from the IGI airport here on June 21, is believed to have provided vital information crucial to 26/11 probe. 

“Yes, others were present and we think one of them was Hafiz Saeed,” Chidambaram said when asked whether Lashkar founder and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief was present at the control room.  On whether there was State support, Chidambaram said that given the sophisticated way of conspiring and executing the attack, it can be concluded that there was state support to the 26/11. 

“All this indicated that these activities could not have been carried out without some kind of state support,” Chidambaram said. The minister once again reiterated that Pakistan has refused to allow a judicial commission to travel to Islamabad to collect information and evidence on 26/11 – giving indication that the neighbour’s are not serious enough in containing terrorism.

Chidambaram also downplayed the rivalry between the investigating agencies, especially between the Delhi police’s Special Cell and Mumbai’s ATS on seeking custody of Jundal. “No one is fighting anyone. At the moment the custody of Jundal has been given to Delhi Police and investigation agencies and intelligence agencies have joined Delhi Police in interrogation” .

The minister said, “I have told the Chief Minister of Maharashtra in due course with the permission of court that he  (Jundal) will be made available to the ATS Mumbai and to the Maharashtra Police in the Mumbai and Aurangabad cases.” Gujarat police will also get chance, he clarified.