Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, had a “candid” discussion on quickly bringing to a close the 2008 Mumbai attack trial during their meeting in Russia on Friday, sources said.
India has raised the slow pace of the trial at all bilateral talks so far, but Islamabad has argued that the evidence offered by New Delhi for the prosecution of seven people charged with planning and executing the 26/11 Mumbai attacks is weak and insufficient.
“Both sides agreed to discuss ways and means to expedite the Mumbai case trial, including additional information like providing voice samples,” said a joint media statement after the meeting in Ufa.
Union home minister Rajnath Singh welcomed the statement, describing it as positive, but he also cautioned that the outcome will be keenly watched.
Sources said Pakistan agreeing to give voice samples was a step in the right direction, but a lot depends on speeding up the trial in Pakistan. The voice samples of the seven accused may help Mumbai police strengthen their case against Lashkar-e-Toiba operative Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, who was also allegedly in the Karachi-based control room of the 26/11 attack squad.
{{/usCountry}}Sources said Pakistan agreeing to give voice samples was a step in the right direction, but a lot depends on speeding up the trial in Pakistan. The voice samples of the seven accused may help Mumbai police strengthen their case against Lashkar-e-Toiba operative Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, who was also allegedly in the Karachi-based control room of the 26/11 attack squad.
{{/usCountry}}The NIA has also filed a chargesheet against top Laskhar operatives and David Coleman Headley, an American who admitted scouting targets for the 2008 attack, for the larger conspiracy to destablise India with a series of operations that started with the Mumbai attacks.
“We want Pakistan to use the evidence of the 26/11 attack sent by us for its trial against the accused. Pakistan should use all evidence provided by Headley as well,” said a home ministry official.