Pakistan arrests terrorism suspects
Updated
It wasn't long after the gunmen began their bloody attack on sites around Mumbai last November, that the Indian government began pointing a finger of blame at Pakistan.
Now the Pakistani government says police have arrested several suspects and are promising to bring others to justice and its admitted the Mumbai terrorist attacks were partly planned in Pakistan.
Presenter: Sally Sara
Speakers: Rehman Malik, Pakistani Interior Ministry Chief; P Chidambaram, Indian Interior Minister
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SALLY SARA: Tension between India and Pakistan has been escalating since last year's terrorist attacks in Mumbai. India has accused Pakistan of involvement and Pakistan has denied it.
But, now Pakistani Interior Ministry Chief Rehman Malik has conceded the attacks were partly planned in Pakistan.
REHMAN MALIK: Some part of the conspiracy has taken place in Pakistan and all those, according to the available information, most of them, they are in our custody.
SALLY SARA: Rehman Malik is the Pakistani Government's most senior spokesman on counter-terrorism.
India has been waiting for him to deliver a response to its dossier of evidence on the Mumbai attacks.
Pakistan was initially sceptical about the dossier but Indian Interior Minister P Chidambaram says the document was carefully constructed.
P CHIDAMBARAM: It was a very cogently argued document and no-one could have ignored the evidence there. We are happy that the initial response is positive.
SALLY SARA: For the past month, pressure has been building on Pakistan to respond to the dossier. The admission of Pakistani involvement in the Mumbai attacks is headline news in India.
(Excerpt from Indian TV News)
NEWSREADER: First up the big story we have been following today. After a spate of flip-flops, Pakistan has finally admitted that the conspiracy behind the Mumbai terror attacks was planned in that country.
(End of excerpt)
The pressure on Pakistan has come not only from India. Earlier this week, US President Barack Obama telephoned his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari calling for a strong partnership.
But President Obama also warned that the US would not allow safe havens for militants in Pakistan. The message has been clear. If Pakistan doesn't deal with the terrorists on its soil, then the US and others will.
With that in mind, Pakistani Interior Ministry spokesman Rehman Malik went to great lengths to emphasise that Pakistan will cooperate with India in investigating the Mumbai attacks.
REHMAN MALIK: We have gone extra mile so that's why I would like to assure the Indian leadership, the people of India, we are with you and we will prove that we're with you.
SALLY SARA: India's top security officials are now meeting to examine the Pakistani response and to plot their next move.
The lone surviving gunman of the terrorist attacks remains in custody in Mumbai. The Pakistani Government is promising to prosecute those who trained and commanded him.
