While saying that 99 percent of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack evidence exists in Pakistan, and that India had handed over all relevant documents to the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday said Pakistan has been entrusted with the responsibility of bringing perpetrators of the dastardly act to book expeditiously.
"As you are aware, the entire planning of the dastardly Mumbai terrorist attack was undertaken in Pakistan. The conspiracy for that attack was in Pakistan. The funding for those people who undertook the attack was in Pakistan and the training was undertaken in Pakistan. Therefore, it follows that 99 percent of the evidence in this case exists in Pakistan," MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.
"It is incumbent on the authorities in Pakistan to gather that evidence and present it before the courts in Pakistan, so that justice is done to those who were the victims of the dastardly attack. It now devolves on Pakistan to comply with its assurances, and ensure that the perpetrators of the dastardly attack are brought to book, and swiftly, and expeditiously," he added.
Syed Akbaruddin also said there was a judicial commission from Pakistan, which came to the country in September, and gathered evidence. "All the documented evidence was handed over to the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi on October 14 and October 15," he confirmed.
The 2008 Mumbai attacks were twelve coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai, by members of Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Ajmal Kasab, the only attacker who was captured alive, later confessed upon interrogation that the attacks were conducted with the support of Pakistan's ISI.
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The attacks, which drew widespread global condemnation, began on Wednesday, 26 November and lasted until Saturday, 29 November 2008, claiming the lives of 166 people and wounding at least 308.
Eight of the attacks occurred in South Mumbai-at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Leopold Cafe, the Cama Hospital (a women and children's hospital), the Nariman House Jewish community centre, the Metro Cinema, a lane behind the Times of India building and St. Xavier's College.
There was also an explosion at Mazagaon, in Mumbai's port area, and in a taxi at Vile Parle.
By the early morning of 28 November, all sites except for the Taj Hotel had been secured by Mumbai Police and security forces.
On 29 November, India's National Security Guards (NSG) conducted Operation Black Tornado to flush out the remaining attackers. It resulted in the deaths of the last remaining attackers at the Taj Hotel and the ending of all fighting in the attacks.
Kasab was hanged on 21 November 2012 at 7:30 a.m. and buried at the Yerwada Jail in Pune after nearly four years of court proceedings.