by Brig Arun Bajpai

The most dastardly Jihadist attack on Mumbai by fully armed and trained 10 Jihadists of Lashkar-e-Taiba by Pakistani Army and its intelligence agency ISI on 26 November 2008 had happened a decade back. Indian judicial system, notorious for delay in trials, had tried this case up to supreme court level and one of the surviving culprits Ajmal Kasab of Pakistan, was hung by rope within four years that is by 2012.While in Pakistan the joke of these trials are still going on in lower courts, despite a decade has gone by. All the culprits like Hafiz Saeed and Lakhvi and others are on bail. Mr Lakhvi, one of the main operators of LeT directly involved in this carnage, has even produced a child. It will not be surprising if Pakistani courts release all these culprits with clean chits in the time to come.

It was on 26 November 2008 that ten Jihads of LeT, fully trained and equipped by Pakistani army and ISI, came from the sea route in a small boat and landed in coastal Mumbai. By evening of this day, they started their rampage at various places, mostly posh areas, firing and killing at random. A total of 160 people including foreigners were killed and 600 wounded. they kept Mumbai under siege for three days. nine of these LeT Jihadist were killed and one Ajmal Kasab was captured live. Ajmal Kasab spilled all the beans as to how they were trained by Pakistani Army and ISI and equipped. As is usual with Pakistan they initially lied that they were Pakistanis. Then in front of mounting evidence they accepted that they could be Pakistanis but refused to accept that they were state actors till a few days back their deposed EX PM Nawaz Sharif announced in open forum that not only they were Pakistanis but were also trained and equipped by Pakistani army and ISI.

There is no doubt that this Mumbai Attack, case running in Pakistani lower courts even after a decade, is no less than a cruel joke. can you believe it that a witness in Pakistani court on this case has deposed that Ajmal Kasab is alive and will be produced in court in due course of time, which Pakistani court accepts it? Till date they have changed nine judges hearing this case. All the accused in this case including master minds Hafiz Saeed and Lakhvi are all out on bail. Lakhvi, when for some time he was in jail, was provided all comforts including sofas, telephone, internet and women also in jail. he produced a child also in jail. Can this be possible if all powerful Pakistani Army was not involved in this case? One of the main masterminds of this heinous crime, an officer of Pakistani Army, Sajid Mir, has not been arrested till date because he is an Army man. It is not that all court cases get delayed like this in Pakistan. Shakeel Ahmed Afridi who helped America in tracing out Osama Bin laden hidden by ISI in Pakistani military garrison town of Abbottabad, was arrested immediately by Pakistan. His property was also attached and within two years all legal action against him were completed and he was put behind bars for 33 years, despite great hue and cry by America and western countries.

Now India today, the 26 November 2018, is planning to lay the stone by Vice President Naidu to develop a world level facility, Kartarpur corridor from Dera baba Nanak for the Sikh community to celebrate 550 anniversary of Shri Guru Nanakji. Pakistan says it will also do the same on its side of border. It is simple that Pakistan is up to another trick of influencing these Sikh people visiting Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib, located 30 km inside Pakistan, for Khalistan. We must not forget that all Sikh pilgrims who visit Gurudwara Kartarpur sahib also visit Gurudwara Nankana sahib located 130 km inside Pakistan. Already Khalistani posters are stuck on Nankana Sahib, why? there are also reports that Indian High Commission officials in Pakistan are not allowed to meet these Pilgrims, why? Hope India and Modi Government is not falling into another trap laid by Pakistani Army in Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib. India must be wary of all Pakistani moves on Khalistan. Pakistan just cannot be trusted. off late apart from Kashmir, Pakistan has also started activities to destabilise Punjab. On 27 July 2017, Pakistani Army’s fighting arm, LeT had launched a Jihadi attack in Gurdaspur killing four police persons of Punjab and four civilians. Pakistan is also involved in getting Khalistani recruits from ASEAN countries. India must capitalise on near bankruptcy state of Pakistan. India must set time bound objectives of plucking Baluchistan and Sindh from Pakistan. the way Pakistani Army has unleashed atrocities in Baluchistan and the way Altaf Hussain the head of MQM movement in Sindh, has been dumped by Pakistan, this opens lot of opportunities for India. These are low hanging fruits needing to be plucked.

Brig Arun Bajpai (Retd) is a distinguished Defence and Strategic Analyst. Views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of IDN. IDN does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same