Resolving 26/11 case in interest of Pak: Imran Khan

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that he has asked his officials for an update on the trial of the plotters of 26/11 attacks as it is “in the interest” of his country itself to “resolve” the “case”.

“We also want something done about the bombers of Mumbai. I have asked our government to find out the status of the case. Resolving that case is in our interest because it was an act of terrorism,” Khan said in an interview with The Washington Post.

His comment came about a fortnight after the 10th anniversary of the November 26-28, 2008 terror strikes in Mumbai renewed the focus on the role of the “state and non-state actors” of Pakistan in the attacks, which had left over 160 killed and countless injured.

New Delhi has been steadfastly underlining that the 26/11 terrorist attack was planned, executed and launched from territory under the control of Pakistan. The attack was carried out by 10 terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).

“I know, because India has elections coming up. The ruling party has an anti-Muslim, anti-Pakistan approach. They rebuffed all my overtures,” Khan told Washington Post when he was asked about India's dismissive response to the “overtures made by Pakistan after he took over as Prime Minister of his country.

Though persistent pressure from India forced Pakistan to arrest some LeT leaders and operatives in connection with the attack, the trial against them did not make much progress in the past 10 years. Hafiz Saeed, whom New Delhi suspects to be the mastermind of the 26/11 attacks, continues to live free in Pakistan. Zaki Ur Rahman Lakhvi, who allegedly coordinated the attacks in Mumbai from a control room in Karachi, was also released on bail in 2015.

New Delhi of late once again called upon Government of Pakistan to give up double standards and to expeditiously bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice. “This is not just a matter of Pakistan’s accountability to the families of the innocent victims who fell to terrorists, but also an international obligation,” the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi said on November 26 last.