Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh blamed “external forces” for the violence — a phrase sometimes used to refer to Pakistani militants, whom Indian authorities often blame for attacks.
Yesterday, India’s foreign minister ratcheted up the accusations over the attacks.
“According to preliminary information, some elements in Pakistan are responsible for [the] Mumbai terror attacks,” Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters in the city of Jodhpur.
“Proof cannot be disclosed at this time,” he said, adding that Pakistan had assured New Delhi it would not allow its territory to be used for attacks against India.
India has long accused Islamabad of allowing militant Muslim groups, particularly those fighting in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, to train and take shelter in Pakistan. Mukherjee’s carefully phrased comments appeared to indicate he was accusing Pakistan-based groups of staging the attack, not Pakistan itself.
Earlier yesterday, Pakistani Defense Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, in Islamabad, denied involvement by his country: “I will say in very categoric terms that Pakistan is not involved in these gory incidents.”
The gunmen were well-prepared, apparently scouting some targets ahead of time and carrying large bags of almonds to keep up their energy.
“It’s obvious they were trained somewhere ... Not everyone can handle the AK series of weapons or throw grenades like that,” an unidentified member of India’s Marine Commando unit told reporters, his face wrapped in a black mask.
He said the men were “very determined and remorseless.”
A US investigative team was heading to Mumbai, a State Department official said on Thursday evening, speaking on condition of anonymity because the US and Indian governments were still working out final details.
Among the dead were two Australians and a Japanese, the state home ministry said. An Italian, a Briton and a German were also killed, their foreign ministries said.
Also See: MUMBAI ATTACKS: Tales of terror emerge from Mumbai
Also See: MUMBAI ATTACKS: Briton gave details of attack by phone hours before death
Also See: MUMBAI ATTACKS: Indian media slam intelligence
Also See: MUMBAI ATTACKS: Clues suggest homegrown terrorists in India attack
Also See: MUMBAI ATTACKS: Sensex rebounds after multiple attacks
Also See: MUMBAI ATTACKS: Attacks could chill Pakistani ties
Also See: Tour of India up to players: Pietersen
RSS