The Pakistani links to the Mumbai terror attacks, especially the role of LeT founder Hafeez Saeed and its operations chief Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, came clear in the judgement delivered by a Mumbai court which held pronounced Ajmal Kasab guilty in the 26/11 carnage.
Holding that 26/11 attack was not a simple act of murder, the judge M L Tahiliyani of the special court said "it was part of a larger conspiracy to wage war against the nation."
The judge said 20 of the wanted accused were involved in hatching the conspiracy of the terror attack.
The court observed that terrorists' handlers from Pakistan were directing them, asking them to "fight until death" and not allow themselves to be caught alive.
Apart from Saeed, chief of terror group Lashar-e-Taiba and Lakhvi, the 20 wanted accused who have been held responsible for their involvement in the attack include other LeT operatives like Abu Hamza, Abu Kaahfa, Zarar Shah and Abu Al Kama.
It also includes one Major General Saab, who according to the prosecution, is a retired general of the Pakistan Army and was present during the training of the 10 terrorists who had attacked Mumbai.
"The 20 wanted accused were involved in hatching the conspiracy and preparations and training of the 10 terrorists," the court said.
The court had issued non-bailable warrants against 27 of them during the trial which were handed over to the interpol, but none was arrested. The Interpol had issued a Red Corner notice against the two.
Kasab, a native of Faridkot in Pakistan's Punjab province, along with nine slain terrorists, was charged with killing 166 persons, including 25 foreigners and injuring 304 others at the instance of LeT.
Ten terrorists, trained and armed by the outlawed LeT in Pakistan, had descended on India's financial capital on a 'Fidayeen' (suicide) mission and brought it down on the knees during the 60-hour siege, killing and wounding people at will at its landmarks.
The nine slain terrorists were identified as Abu Ismael, Abu Akasha, Abu Umar, Abdul Rehman Bada, Abu Umer, Abdul Rehman Chhota, Fahad Ullah, Javed Abu Ali and Abu Shoeb.
Maharashtra Government, in the meantime, will request the Centre to ask Pakistan to hand over the 20 accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks trial. PTI
