Mumbai attacks gunman trial

[Merlin]

This took the court by surprise.

Mumbai attacks gunman in dramatic guilty plea

4 hrs ago [AFP] MUMBAI — The sole surviving gunman from last year's Mumbai attacks, a Pakistani national, on Monday pleaded guilty at his trial, admitting for the first time his part in the atrocity that killed 166 people.

Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, 21, told a special prison court -- where he had originally pleaded not guilty -- that he wanted to confess, taking the judge, the prosecution and his own defence lawyer by surprise.

"I plead guilty," he told the court in Mumbai, before narrating how the attacks were carried out, and giving details of his journey from Pakistan with nine other gunmen.

Kasab and accomplice Abu Ismail opened fire with AK-47 assault rifles and threw hand grenades at commuters at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, killing 52 and injuring 109 in the bloodiest episode of the 60-hour reign of terror. ....

Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told reporters outside court that Kasab had realised "the cat was out of the bag" after 134 witnesses gave evidence against him since the trial began in April.

DNA, fingerprint and closed-circuit television evidence was also produced in court.

Nikam linked the confession to the forthcoming trial in Pakistan of five men accused of involvement in the attacks, including key Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives Zarar Shah and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind. .....

The attacks, which injured more than 300 people and left 26 foreign nationals dead, frayed already strained relations between India and Pakistan and sparked international condemnation. ....

[Merlin]

The admission and confession of Kasab will now expedite the Islamabad trial of his LeT handlers.

Mumbai attackers’ confession to expedite trial of his handlers in Pakistan

20 July [METransparent] LAHORE: The under trial Pakistani national Ajmal Kasab’s surprised move on Monday to plead guilty before an Indian court of all the charges leveled against him pertaining to his role in the Mumbai terrorist attacks would help Islamabad expedite the trial of his under detention handlers back home including the chief operational commander of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) Commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.

Ajmal Kasab for the first time narrated to the Mumbai trial court the entire plot behind the Mumbai terror attacks. Kasab confessed in court that he came in a boat from Karachi along with nine other terrorists. “Sir, mujhe mera gunah kabul hai (I plead guilty to my crime),” Kasab told the court. Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam has been quoted by the Indian media as saying that Ajmal Kasab’s admission was unexpected. “Kasab has admitted to all the charges against him. It is a great victory for all of us,” Nikam said.

Some well placed Interior ministry sources in Islamabad say, while requesting anonymity, that Ajmal Kasab’s confession has dashed the hopes of the under trial LeT militants in Pakistan who had been in high spirits following the May 6, 2009 statement of the lone surviving Mumbai attacker in a Mumbai court, pleading not guilty.

Ajmal had recalled in his May 6 confession his first contact with the Lashkar-e-Toiba, his induction into the LeT network, his subsequent training and contacts with the LeT founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and Commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, among others. According to the confessional statement, Lakhvi was present at a creek as Ajmal and his associates started their voyage from the port city of Karachi to the port city of Mumbai on November 22, 2008.

The sources said that Kasab’s confession and his reported decision to give details of the Mumbai conspiracy would make it easy for the Pakistani authorities to nail down the five under trial LeT militants who are being held at the Adiala Jail in the garrison town of Rawalpindi. ...

[Kommunist]

The timing of this does seem more than a coincidence.;)

First the Indo-Pak talks at Cairo, then the filing of fresh charge-sheets against the masterminds in Pakistan's special Anti-Terror court, and now this. A sudden rush in activity after a lull, coinciding with Hillary Clinton's India visit, hmm.

[kuku]

This guy is just a kid, the real big a holes are safe and waiting to let things cool down before the next attack, its been so long, no action against the groups responsible.

I think all this is building up towards a very tragic end for our region.

[Tronic]

Its pretty clear, He is looking forward to the court granting him a death sentence and wants to rush things through, to finally attain his so called "martyrdom". I hope he gets life imprisonment instead, and even if he gets death, I hope someone files a mercy plea, and the government lets the sentence hang for years on end, just like Afzal Guru. That pig deserves what he is getting, this pig should line up for the same treatment!

[antimony]

Its pretty clear, He is looking forward to the court granting him a death sentence and wants to rush things through, to finally attain his so called "martyrdom". I hope he gets life imprisonment instead, and even if he gets death, I hope someone files a mercy plea, and the government lets the sentence hang for years on end, just like Afzal Guru. That pig deserves what he is getting, this pig should line up for the same treatment!

Unfortunately, for our country that just allows another dog to plan a Kandahar and demand his release

[antimony]

The timing of this does seem more than a coincidence.;)

First the Indo-Pak talks at Cairo, then the filing of fresh charge-sheets against the masterminds in Pakistan's special Anti-Terror court, and now this. A sudden rush in activity after a lull, coinciding with Hillary Clinton's India visit, hmm.

Might this be linked with the recent joint statement?

[Tronic]

Unfortunately, for our country that just allows another dog to plan a Kandahar and demand his release

Don't think thats possible anymore. I think the stated policy now is not to negotiate with terrorists. IIRC, Even during the Mumbai carnage, I believe the terrorists wanted to get in contact with the government, rather, the government closed their ears. The idiotic media then got in contact with the terrorists themselves and put them live on air. Morons!

[Merlin]

The timing of this does seem more than a coincidence.;)

First the Indo-Pak talks at Cairo, then the filing of fresh charge-sheets against the masterminds in Pakistan's special Anti-Terror court, and now this. A sudden rush in activity after a lull, coinciding with Hillary Clinton's India visit, hmm.

LOL! So this means from his prison in Mumbai he can communicate and get advice from a smart strategist?

[sumob]

LOL! So this means from his prison in Mumbai he can communicate and get advice from a smart strategist?

Sir, If we go looking for a conspiracy theory, we can say that he could be receiving instructions through his lawyer, or maybe from somebody in the lawyer's team.

[Merlin]

This looks like the complex relation between India and Pakistan is not going to be improved.

Mumbai attacker’s confession could heighten pressure on Pakistan

21 July [CSMonitor] NEW DELHI – The stunning confession by the surviving gunman from the gruesome Mumbai attacks last November could give India a new tool in its effort to pressure Pakistan to rein in militant groups, analysts say.

On Monday Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, one of 10 gunmen who launched the assault on India‘s financial capital that killed more than 170 people, stood up during his trial in a high-security prison in Mumbai and reversed his previous plea of not guilty. He said he had been recruited by the Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and provided details of his instruction and training.

“This will push relations between India and Pakistan into a tight corner,” says Ayesha Siddiqa, an Islamabad-based security analyst.

India is likely now to renew its calls for Pakistan to clamp down on LeT and extradite its leaders. “But it has been made very clear to the international community that Pakistan is not going to hand over LeT leaders to India,” Ms. Siddiqa continues. “It’s very clear that if they are tried, they have to be tried in Pakistan. It’s going to cause a lot of internal frustration in India.” ....

Kasab’s testimony may complicate India-Pakistan relations. The November attack caused India to pull out of a promising peace process with its nuclear-armed neighbor. Though Kasab’s testimony adds little to claims of Pakistani involvement made so far, open confirmation of the involvement of the LeT could inflame public sentiment in India and threaten renewed peace efforts.

LeT was originally formed to contest India’s presence in Kashmir and has for much of its 20-year existence been supported by Pakistan as a proxy in its contest for control of the disputed mountain region.

Kasab’s confession came days after Pakistani authorities acknowledged that the LeT was behind the Mumbai attacks. They deny any state involvement, however. .....

Pakistan says it is preparing to try five suspects from the Mumbai attacks, including Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, whom Kasab named in his testimony as the “mastermind” behind the attack.

Last month, however, a Pakistani court freed LeT leader Hafiz Saeed from house arrest – infuriating Indian leaders. An Indian court has issued arrest warrants for 22 Pakistani nationals for involvement in the attacks, including Mr. Saeed. .....

[sumob]

The dual speak from Pakistan and their activities on the ground do frustrate the Indian establishment to a great extent.

Recent example is the meeting between the two leaders in Egypt. Eventhough PM Singh has shown extreme maturity and also flexibility in the talks,( witness the reaction at home, even his party is tryin to distance itself from the Jt. statement) there has been no corresponding reciprocal gesture from the other side.

On the contrary they have been playing this to the gallery back home.

[Merlin]

Zadari may have a well publicised meeting with Mammohan Singh. But is my understand correct that Zadari and Gulani do not have good experience and ability in running the country, and this incapable government is not in good control of the armed forces, the security forces and the country.

[sumob]

Sir, Gilani had a meeting with PM Singh at Egypt. At the G 8 PM singh had met PM Zardari which had turned out to be quite embarassing for the Pakistan President when Manmohan Singh in presence of the media stated that he had a mandate only to discuss about the terror activities in Pakistan.

On the other hand reagrding the relations between Zardari and Gilani I have a feeling that Gilani may be distancing himself from the President so that he may be able to chart an independent course for himself.