In a biggest statement ever made by an ex-Pakistani general has proved that Pakistan is a terrorist sponsoring state, Ex-Pak NSA Mahmud Ali Durrani exposed the role of Pakistan in the 26/11 Mumbai attack while speaking at the 19th Asian Security Conference, Delhi.
He said, “I hate to admit it that the 26/11 Mumbai attack carried out by a terror group based in Pakistan is classic trans-border terrorist event.”
The theme of the conference this year is “Combating Terrorism: Evolving an Asian Response”.
He also talked about Hafiz Saeed and said, “Hafiz Saeed has no utility, we should act against him.”
He, however, said the Pakistani government had no role in the attack.
Durrani was sacked from the post of national security adviser for confirming Mumbai attacker Ajmal Kasab’s Pakistani nationality to the media.
He said, “Terrorism remains pervasive challenge to international security, developing coordinated global response is important. Terrorism is undoubtedly the single biggest threat to international peace & security.”
He further said, “Afghanistan and India have been victims of proxy war for decades now.”
In reaction to the NSA’s comment, Pakistan Defence Analyst Tariq Pirzada said, “Ex-Pakistan NSA is speaking pure rubbish.”
“Durrani is out of his mind. He has obviously switched sides. If he thinks Pakistan is responsible for the cross-border terrorism you should hold him till you complete the prosecution. Because there are no witnesses,” said Tariq Pirzada.
New Delhi has provided ample evidence to Islamabad over involvement of top Lashkar-e-Taiba commanders in the November 26, 2008 attacks. However, Pakistan has denied all such allegations blaming ‘non-state actors’ for the incident. Lashkar’s operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, who India says masterminded the attack, has been in hiding after getting bail over a year ago.
American citizen David Headley, who admitted scouting targets for the 2008 attack, has testified that the plot was hatched with at least one Pakistani intelligence official and a navy frogman.
If former US ambassador to India Timothy Roemer is to be believed, the 26/11 attacks brought India-Pakistan on the brink of a nuclear war.
“Those attacks almost started a war between Pakistan and India that might have resulted in some kind of a nuclear war,” Roemer had said.
Public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam welcomed Durrani’s statement. “I would like to congratulate him for showing the courage, but now he must come out and open the whole conspiracy to the world,” Nikam said.
