Pakistan denies involvement in 2008 Mumbai attacks after American David Headley reportedly names three Pakistani officers
March 31st, 2010 - 8:13 pm ICT by BNO NewsBy Michael van Poppel
RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN (THAINDIAN NEWS) — The Pakistani Army on Wednesday denied any involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks that left 166 people dead. The denial comes after media reports and a public prosecutor blamed Pakistan for being directly involved.
The attacks on November 26, 2008, which were allegedly carried out by ten terrorists from Pakistan, left 166 civilians dead. Nine terrorists were also killed, while a tenth attacker - Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, 21 - was arrested.
On Wednesday, Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said the attacks were actually state sponsored terrorism. “Not just Lashkar, the Pakistani Army too was behind the 26/11 attacks,” he said. Nikam referred to ‘Lashkar-e-Taiba’, a Pakistan-based Islamic group believed to have carried out the attack.
Also on Wednesday, several media outlets cited unidentified sources as saying that Pakistani American David Headley named three officers of the Pakistani Army and Inter-Services Intelligence about their direct involvement in the attacks.
A spokesman for the Pakistani Army ’strongly denied’ the allegation, saying the claim is “false and fabricated.” The spokesman said the news reports are aimed to malign the Pakistani Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence agency.
“There is absolutely no linkage or connection, what so ever, between Army / ISI and David Headley,” a statement read. “The report appears to be part of an overall design with a malicious intent to bring disrepute to our national security organizations.”
The allegations came on the same day a trial into the attacks closed. The trial, which blames ‘Lashkar-e-Taiba’ for the murder of 166 people, concluded less than a year after it opened.
In court are the surviving gunman, Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, and two alleged Indian co-defendants who are said to have helped plot the attacks. A verdict is expected on May 3.
The attacks in 2008 began on November 26 and lasted nearly three full days. Ten men armed with assault rifles stormed two luxury hotels, a Jewish center and a train station. The siege left 166 civilians dead and injured more than 300 others.
- Home ministry gives nod to charges against Headley (Lead) - Dec 21, 2011
- Bring terror suspect Hamza to Mumbai: Court (Lead) - Jun 25, 2012
- Court asks NIA to present Headley May 31 (Lead) - Mar 13, 2012
- Kasab, Jundal to be jointly questioned by Mumbai Police - Aug 10, 2012
- NIA charges against Headley, Pakistani terrorists soon - Dec 05, 2011
- Court asks NIA to present Headley - Mar 13, 2012
- 'Pakistani navy trainer trained 26/11 terrorists' - Jul 19, 2010
- 26/11: Pakistani judicial panel begins visit to India (Lead) - Mar 15, 2012
- India to seek extradition of 26/11 accused from US, Pakistan - Jan 30, 2012
- Mumbai attack: US charges four top Pakistani terrorists (Lead) - Apr 26, 2011
- 'Jindal got regular information about Mumbai from Headley' - Jul 05, 2012
- ISI hired Headley to spy on India, Mumbai attacks: report - Jan 01, 2011
- 26/11: NIA files charges against Headley, eight others (Lead) - Dec 24, 2011
- Indian court upholds death sentence for Pakistani terrorist involved in 2008 Mumbai bombing - Feb 22, 2011
- Kasab: He first took to crime, then to jehad - Aug 29, 2012
Tags: ajmal, allegation, attac, david headley, disrepute, intelligence agency, inter services, islamic group, kasab, lashkar e taiba, malicious intent, media outlets, nikam, pakistani army, public prosecutor, rawalpindi pakistan, security organizations, state sponsored terrorism, unidentified sources, van poppel