India Shares Mumbai Terror Attack Evidence With China

Monday, January 5, 2009 at 5:58 pm under Pakistan News

New Delhi: India on Monday shared with China evidence about involvement of Pakistan-based elements in the Mumbai terror attacks and urged Beijing to use its influence with its ally Islamabad to cooperate on the issue.
Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon gave details of the Mumbai attacks to Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei, who has been sent here as a special envoy amid a chill in Indo-Pak ties in the aftermath of the November 26 terror strikes.

During the two-hour-long meeting, Menon apprised He Yafei about the evidence showing that 10 heavily-armed terrorists were sent from Karachi to Mumbai to carry out attacks and that the three-day-long operation was guided from Pakistan.

India has compiled a dossier of evidence which includes confession of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist arrested during the attack, satellite phone intercepts and record of logbooks recovered from a ship by which ten heavily armed terrorists came from Karachi to Mumbai on November 26.

Menon is understood to have urged the Chinese minister that his country should use its influence with Pakistan to ensure that the perpetrators of the attacks are brought to justice and that such strikes do not take place in the future.

He Yafei, who arrived here last evening, suggested that India and Pakistan should hold dialogue to resolve the issue.

“We had very good talks with the Foreign Secretary… We got a full briefing from our (Indian) colleagues. We would study them of course… We would see,” He Yafei told reporters after his meeting with Menon when asked about evidence.

He noted that India has already shared the evidence with Pakistan.

“My visit here is to encourage both sides to find a way out through dialogue and consultation.. it is the best way,” the Chinese minister said while noting that he was here to assess the situation and to encourage peace and stability in the region.

He Yafei pointed out that he had travelled to Pakistan a few days ago and “there is will on both sides to encourage and find a way out through dialogue”.

China is seeking to play a mediatory role in the midst of the Indo-Pak chill. While New Delhi is not comfortable with the mediation part, it wants Beijing to use its influence with its ally Beijing to ensure end to cross-border terrorism.

Earlier, India had sought such cooperation from Saudi Arabia, another close ally of Pakistan, in this direction.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi had talked to Mukherjee over phone a week ago during which the Indian leader had told him about India having the evidence to show involvement of Pakistan-based elements in the Mumbai attacks.

Yang, while agreeing that perpetrators of the attack should be brought to justice, had advised that India and Pakistan should hold dialogue for the benefit of the region.

Mukherjee urged the Chinese Foreign Minister to put pressure on its ally Pakistan to act in a concrete manner so that cross-border terrorism against India ends.

He Yafei said during his meeting with Menon, the two sides also got a chance to discuss Sino-India ties and “what we could do to further our excellent relationship.”

“Our trade has exceeded USD 50 billion last year. We want to break the record. We had set a target of USD 60 billion trade by 2010, but would certainly accomplish the target before time,” he said.