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| Pakistani judge grants bail to alleged key figure in 2008 Mumbai terror attack | Pakistani judge grants bail to alleged key figure in 2008 Mumbai terror attack |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – A Pakistani court on Thursday granted bail to an alleged key figure in a deadly 2008 assault in Mumbai, sparking outrage in India and further muddying perceptions about Pakistan’s resolve to combat terrorism. | ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – A Pakistani court on Thursday granted bail to an alleged key figure in a deadly 2008 assault in Mumbai, sparking outrage in India and further muddying perceptions about Pakistan’s resolve to combat terrorism. |
| The judicial decision — made over objections from government lawyers — comes as Pakistani leaders vow major crackdowns on militants after Taliban gunmen killed 148 students and teachers in a horrific attack in Peshawar on Tuesday. | The judicial decision — made over objections from government lawyers — comes as Pakistani leaders vow major crackdowns on militants after Taliban gunmen killed 148 students and teachers in a horrific attack in Peshawar on Tuesday. |
| “Does Pakistan not think of the Mumbai terror attack a big thing?” said Ujjwal Nikam, the public prosecutor in the November 2008 attacks, which began with a series of commando-style strikes and culminated with a siege at the city’s landmark Taj hotel. A total of 166 civilians and 17 security officials were killed. | “Does Pakistan not think of the Mumbai terror attack a big thing?” said Ujjwal Nikam, the public prosecutor in the November 2008 attacks, which began with a series of commando-style strikes and culminated with a siege at the city’s landmark Taj hotel. A total of 166 civilians and 17 security officials were killed. |
| At a hastily arranged press conference in Mumbai, Nikam accused Pakistan of “following two standards.” | At a hastily arranged press conference in Mumbai, Nikam accused Pakistan of “following two standards.” |
| “One policy to deal with Taliban’s terror, another when groups are targeting India,” he said. | “One policy to deal with Taliban’s terror, another when groups are targeting India,” he said. |
| Hours earlier, a judge in an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi granted Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, an alleged leader of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group, a $10,000 bail. | Hours earlier, a judge in an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi granted Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, an alleged leader of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group, a $10,000 bail. |
| Lakhvi’s attorney, Rizwan Abbasi, said there was no “substantial evidence” against Lakhvi other than claims he was a commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba group. | Lakhvi’s attorney, Rizwan Abbasi, said there was no “substantial evidence” against Lakhvi other than claims he was a commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba group. |
| “This charge can’t prove he was involved in the Mumbai attack. And it also couldn’t be proved that he was commander of [the group],” he said. | “This charge can’t prove he was involved in the Mumbai attack. And it also couldn’t be proved that he was commander of [the group],” he said. |
| Calling the situation “unfortunate,” India’s Minister of Home Affairs, Rajnath Singh, demanded that Pakistani leaders to appeal Lakhvi’s release. | Calling the situation “unfortunate,” India’s Minister of Home Affairs, Rajnath Singh, demanded that Pakistani leaders to appeal Lakhvi’s release. |
| In the Mumbai attacks, 10 gunmen from Lashkar-e-Taiba entered Mumbai from the sea via Karachi and waged a campaign of terror over two days, Armed with explosives and automatic rifles, they launched a coordinated attack on the Taj hotel as well as a synagogue and educational center. In addition to the dead, about 300 people were wounded. | In the Mumbai attacks, 10 gunmen from Lashkar-e-Taiba entered Mumbai from the sea via Karachi and waged a campaign of terror over two days, Armed with explosives and automatic rifles, they launched a coordinated attack on the Taj hotel as well as a synagogue and educational center. In addition to the dead, about 300 people were wounded. |
| One of the Pakistani terrorists linked to the attacks, Ajmal Amir Kasab, was arrested by the police during the attack and hanged in 2012. But Pakistan, which has fought three major wars against India, refused to hand over the additional suspects. | One of the Pakistani terrorists linked to the attacks, Ajmal Amir Kasab, was arrested by the police during the attack and hanged in 2012. But Pakistan, which has fought three major wars against India, refused to hand over the additional suspects. |
| Lakhvi and six other men were brought up on charges in Pakistan. | Lakhvi and six other men were brought up on charges in Pakistan. |
| “We call upon the government of Pakistan to immediately take steps to reverse this decision. There can be no selective approaches to terrorism,” said Syed Akbaruddin, spokesman for India’s Ministry of External Affair. | |
| There was no immediate official comment from Pakistan. A Pakistani diplomatic official, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted the country “has independent courts,” but stressed the government will file an appeal. | |
| With Pakistan still grieving over the massacre at the army-run school, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said in recent days the country will crush terrorism in all of its “forms and manifestations.” | With Pakistan still grieving over the massacre at the army-run school, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said in recent days the country will crush terrorism in all of its “forms and manifestations.” |
| And, despite decades of hostility between the two countries, India’s prime minister called Sharif on Wednesday to offer his personal condolences for the Peshawar attack. School-children across India also held a two-minute moment of silence on Wednesday for the victims. | And, despite decades of hostility between the two countries, India’s prime minister called Sharif on Wednesday to offer his personal condolences for the Peshawar attack. School-children across India also held a two-minute moment of silence on Wednesday for the victims. |
| Pakistani intelligence officials believe the attack was planned from Afghanistan, where many top Pakistani Taliban leaders are believed to reside. | Pakistani intelligence officials believe the attack was planned from Afghanistan, where many top Pakistani Taliban leaders are believed to reside. |
| Pakistan’s powerful army chief, Raheel Sharif, traveled to Kabul on Wednesday to seek Afghanistan’s help in capturing those leaders. | Pakistan’s powerful army chief, Raheel Sharif, traveled to Kabul on Wednesday to seek Afghanistan’s help in capturing those leaders. |
| In northwestern Pakistan, the main area of Taliban control in the country, police issued an alert to all the prisons warning that militants could attack in attempt to free jailed fighters. | In northwestern Pakistan, the main area of Taliban control in the country, police issued an alert to all the prisons warning that militants could attack in attempt to free jailed fighters. |
| Prime Minister Sharif, who is not related to the army chief, also announced Wednesday that the Pakistan was lifting a moratorium on the death penalty. Sharif met with Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain, who oversees death-row appeals, on Thursday to begin preparing a strategy for expediting justice in terrorism cases. | Prime Minister Sharif, who is not related to the army chief, also announced Wednesday that the Pakistan was lifting a moratorium on the death penalty. Sharif met with Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain, who oversees death-row appeals, on Thursday to begin preparing a strategy for expediting justice in terrorism cases. |
| But U.S. leaders and many analysts have long argued that any successful strategy for combating terrorism in the region must also involve India, also a crucial ally to Afghanistan. | But U.S. leaders and many analysts have long argued that any successful strategy for combating terrorism in the region must also involve India, also a crucial ally to Afghanistan. |
| India has long demanded that Pakistan also take action against Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, the leader of Lashkar-e-Taliba who lives openly in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore. | India has long demanded that Pakistan also take action against Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, the leader of Lashkar-e-Taliba who lives openly in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore. |
| Gowen reported from New Delhi. Shaiq Hussain in Islamabad and Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar contributed to this report. | Gowen reported from New Delhi. Shaiq Hussain in Islamabad and Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar contributed to this report. |