’26/11 Mumbai attacks act of terrorism, resolving the case is in Pakistan’s interest’, says Imran Khan
Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan reportedly said that resolving the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case was in the interest of Pakistan as it was an “act of terrorism.” The Pakistan PM made the comments in an interview with The Washington Post on Thursday. Khan said that he had asked his government to review the status of the case as resolving it was in Pakistan’s interest.
“We also want something done about the bombers of Mumbai. I have asked our government to find out the status of the case. Resolving that case is in our interest because it was an act of terrorism,” Khan told the English daily. Notably, his remarks come days after India slammed Pakistan for showing “little sincerity in bringing the perpetrators to justice”.
In a statement issued on the 10th anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, India had expressed its disappointment with Pakistan as the masterminds and perpetrators of the deadly attack, which killed 166 people, continue to roam freely on the streets of Pakistan. 10 Pakistani terrorists, belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba, had stormed into several places across Mumbai on the night of November 26, 2008, killing 166 people and injuring several others. Pak PM Imran Khan launches scathing attack against BJP, says party has ‘anti-Muslim’, ‘anti-Pakistan’ approach
Reacting Khan’s comments on the Mumbai attacks, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat told news agency ANI, “We know who did it. I don’t think we have to get anymore statement from anybody. International community knows who did it. Acceptance is good but even without it, we knew who had done it.”
Khan also claimed that his overtures of peace with India had been rejected by the Narendra Modi government repeatedly, alleging that the current government in India was “anti-Muslim” and “anti-Pakistan.”
“India has elections coming up. The ruling party [of India] has an anti-Muslim, anti-Pakistan approach. They rebuffed all my overtures,” he told the daily. He also added, “I have opened a visa-free peace corridor with India called Kartarpur [so that Indian Sikhs can visit a holy shrine in Pakistan]. Let’s hope that after the election is over, we can again resume talks with India,” he said.
Notably, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had asserted that there could be no bilateral talks with Pakistan till the Pakistan-sponsored cross border terrorism continues.
