In what exposes Pakistani establishment’s deep rooted links with terror outfits like the Lashkar-e-Toiba, it has now come to the fore that 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi is being protect by Pakistan Army commandos in plainclothes and is staying at a safehouse near Lahore.
On Wednesday, the Pakistani establishment has deliberately deployed commandoes in plainclothes to avoid any controversy over its support to the dreaded terrorist. Reports added that Lakhvi is under foolproof security cover provided by the ISI ever since his release from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on April 10.
Intelligence reports also don’t discount the possibility of Lakhvi having regular interaction with senior officials of the armed forces. Officially, Lakhvi, Hafiz Saeed and others of their ilk remain “non-state actors” for the Pakistan government.
Indian agencies have reasons to be wary of the open support to Lakhvi by the Pakistani establishment as intelligence inputs have been reporting that LeT is planning to attack India once again.
Intel reports have warned that LeT terrorists might sneak into Mumbai via the sea route to replicate the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Temples in Gujarat are also feared to be on the terror radar.
55-year-old Lakhvi, who guided 10 LeT gunmen from a control room in Pakistan during 26/11 attacks, walked free after a Pakistani court ordered his release on April 10.
Lakhvi, a close relative of LeT founder and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, was arrested in December 2008 and was indicted along with the six others on November 25, 2009 in connection with the 26/11 attacks in which over 300 people were also injured. The trial has been underway since 2009.
