US, UK give Pak ‘clinching’ proof

ISLAMABAD: The US and Britain have given Pakistan “clinching evidence” of the involvement of elements within the country in the Mumbai terror attacks and are dismayed by Islamabad’s pussyfooting.

Intercepts of satellite and mobile conversations between the attackers in Mumbai and the Pakistan-based elements guiding them were handed over to Islamabad by the two countries.

Western diplomats believe Islamabad has “not done enough” in terms of acting on the intelligence given to it and want those behind the November 26 strikes to be prosecuted in a transparent manner.

British and US investigators have amassed a large amount of technical and human intelligence that was also subsequently passed on to Pakistan, Western diplomatic sources said.

FBI agents, who were given access to Mohammad Ajmal Amir, the lone gunman captured during the attacks, were convinced he is a Pakistani national. The sources said the most clinching evidence on the Pakistani involvement was provided by the British. In fact, British intel operatives were so convinced of the Pak links to the attacks that they did not take up an offer to question Ajmal.