Thaindian News

Mumbai/New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) Three powerful blasts rocked India’s financial hub Wednesday evening, killing over 20 people and left more than 100 injured. The attacks took place barely a fortnight before the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan are expected to hold talks in New Delhi.

However, India scrupulously avoided pointing a finger at Pakistan, indicating a maturity in ties and a resolve to carry forward the peace process the two neighbours revived only in February this year after an over-two-year hiatus the 26/11 attacks.

According to some records, the attacks coincided with the birthday of Ajmal Kasab, the only surviving Pakistani terrorist who was among 10 Pakistanis who perpetrated the Mumbai carnage, whose death sentence by a trial court has been upheld by the Bombay High Court.

However, according to some reports his birthday is Sep 13.

Abbas Kazmi, who had represented earlier represented Kasab, told IANS that he remembered from the records that the Pakistani terrorist’s birthday is in July, but he could not remember the exact date.

“I remember it is in July, but I don’t remember the date,” Kazmi said.

Kasab, along with his nine compatriots, unleashed terror at various places in Mumbai on the fateful night of Nov 26, 2008 that killed 166 people and left hundreds injured. According to the details provided to Indian authorities, his birth date is July 13. Though his year of birth is not known, police say he is about 23 years old.

Kasab has been in Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai since he was arrested on the night of Nov 26, 2008.

India froze its dialogue process with Pakistan after the Mumbai terror attack. After initial prevarication, Pakistan admitted 10 of its residents were involved in the Mumbai carnage that brought relations to a new low.

When contacted, external affairs ministry officials could not say if they saw a link between the forthcoming India-Pakistan talks and Wednesday’s blasts in Mumbai.