In the wake of the 11/26 Mumbai terror attacks, Indian investigators are accusing the Pakistan-based jihadist organization Lashkar-e Taiba of carrying them out. In the past, the banned organization has also been accused of carrying out a number of terrorist attacks in that country, including attacks in the Kashmir valley and the 2001 Indian parliament attack.
Following the Mumbai attacks, India and the U.S. have increased their pressure on Pakistan to act against Lashkar-e Taiba, which now operates under the name of the Jamaatud Dawa charity, whose headquarters are in Muridke, near Lahore.
In an interview with the Indian weekly magazine Outlook, Professor Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, who founded Lashkar-e-Taiba and who now heads Jamaatud Dawa, denies any involvement in the Mumbai attacks.
Following are excerpts from Prof. Saeed's statements in the interview, as originally published in English:[1]
"The Indian Authorities… Are Only Interested in Blaming Pakistan" For Mumbai Attacks
"Instead of blaming Pakistan, India should have acted as a responsible country, shown patience, and focused on investigating the attacks to find out the real culprits. This is not the first time that the Indians have blamed Pakistan for their own failures, although none of these has proven true so far.
"For instance, the Indian leadership was quick to blame Pakistan for masterminding the 2007 Samjhauta Express and Malegaon 2008 tragedies [terror attacks]. Yet their own security and intelligence agencies finally arrested an Indian army officer, Lt. Col. Purohit, as the actual mastermind....
"The Indian authorities are not at all interested in holding proper investigations into the Mumbai episode. They are only interested in blaming Pakistan, which is evident from the fact that they started naming Pakistan even while the operation [the Mumbai terror attack] was still underway...
"[Blaming Pakistan] is… A Crude Attempt to Divert the Indian People's Attention from Their Massive Security and Intelligence Failure That Led To the Mumbai Attacks"
"Technically, I am not authorized to speak for the Lashkar-e Taiba. I am the Jamaatud Dawa emir and have nothing to do with the Lashkar.
"But I can say with authority that the Lashkar does not believe in killing civilians. A Lashkar spokesman in Srinagar [capital of Indian Kashmir] has denied the allegations that it was involved in the Mumbai attacks, saying that these [allegations] were actually meant to malign the group and damage the ongoing freedom struggle in the Kashmir Valley.
"I stepped down as Lashkar emir in December 2001. [This organization] is now led by Maulana Abdul Wahid Kashmiri, who is based in Srinagar.
"They [the Indians] can say anything. I'm not bothered about what they say. I will keep spreading the message of Allah Almighty despite all pressures, knowing fully well that Indians will continue to mislead the world community by linking us to Lashkar, the ISI [the Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan], and even Al-Qaeda.
"[Blaming Pakistan] is actually a crude attempt to divert the Indian people's attention from their massive security and intelligence failure that led to the Mumbai attacks.
"Like Any Other Patriotic Pakistani, We Too Will Stand Behind The Armed Forces If The Indians Resort To Any Aggression Against Pakistan's Sovereignty
"The Jamaatud Dawa is all about relief and social work, and everyone in Pakistan knows about our activities. Even otherwise, let me make it clear that I have never been convicted either in Pakistan or in India on any charge....
"It will be very unfortunate if India resorts to any... attack because Muridke is only used for educational activities. I strongly refute the Indian allegations that the Markaz [Jamaatud Dawa headquarters in Muridke] contains any jihad-related training facility....
"It's up to the Pakistani government and the Pakistan Army to decide how to react to any... [likely] misadventure by the Indians. The army is responsible for safeguarding Pakistan's geographical frontiers against any external aggression. And like any other patriotic Pakistani, we too will stand behind the armed forces if the Indians resort to any aggression against Pakistan's sovereignty."
Endnote:
[1][1] Outlook, India, December 15, 2008. The text has been lightly edited for clarity.
