Homeland Security

FBI chief begins talks in Pakistan

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, March 6, IRNA -- FBI chief Robert Mueller met Pakistan’s Interior Ministry chief on Friday and discussed with him the ongoing investigation process into the Mumbai attacks, officials said.

Robert Mueller, who also traveled to India before his arrival in Islamabad, briefed Pakistani advisor, Rehman Malik on his interaction with Indian officials about the Mumbai attacks probe, they said.

Nearly 70 people were killed and over 200 injured when gunmen stormed five-star hotel and several other locations in the Indian commercial city of Mumbai in November.

According to officials Malik shared with the FBI chief preliminary investigations Pakistan has carried out and also the action taken against the suspects.

India had blamed Pakistan-based banned groups ‘Lashkar-e-Taiba’ and ‘Jamaat-ud-Daawa’ of organizing attacks.

Last month Pakistan registered cases against nine persons, including several Pakistani nationals and Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone attacker arrested in India for the Mumbai attacks, and uncovered a wide array of leads related to the incident in Mumbai.

Interior ministry chief Rehman Malik says the Federal Investigation Agency had registered the case against nine accused, six of whom are in the custody of Pakistani authorities.

Kasab was named among the accused who had "prima facie committed offences" punishable under the Anti-Terrorism Act, Pakistan Penal Code and Prevention of Electronic Crimes Ordinance.

Hamad Amin Sadiq, a man hailing from Punjab province, was identified as the "main operator" in facilitating and coordinating the Mumbai attacks. Malik identified two other accused only as Khan and Riaz.

The Indian dossier on the Mumbai incident named Lashker-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi as one of those who had launched the attacks.

Pakistan had sent 30 questions to India as part of the investigation process, but officials say that India has not yet responded to the queries.

Sources said that Pakistan Interior Advisor complained to the FBI chief about the ‘slow’ response by India to the questions.