The Indian and Israeli communities in the US strongly condemned the impunity with which masterminds of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack continue to roam free in Pakistan as they called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice, 10 years after the assault that killed 166 people.
The Consulate General of India in New York in collaboration with the Consulate General of Israel and the American India Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) held a memorial service on Monday to pay homage to the victims of the attack on India's financial hub, that included four Israelis and six Americans.
The Consul General Of India Sandeep Chakravorty led the memorial service, stressing that India and Israel share a unique relationship and the two nations should join hands with the US to fight terrorism.
He also mentioned Haifa Day as the Indian Army commemorates September 23 every year as 'Haifa Day' to pay respects to the three Indian cavalry regiments - Mysore, Hyderabad and Jodhpur Lancers - that helped liberate the city of Haifa, which later became a part of Israel, following a dashing cavalry action by the 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade of the then British Indian Army at the Battle of Haifa in 1918.
Chakravorty and Consul General of Israel Dani Dayan were united in their message that the world stands in solidarity with India and its fight against terrorism. They condemned the impunity with which the masterminds of the 26/11 attack move around in Pakistan and called for justice.
Seven Lashkar-e-Taiba members, including its operations commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, are facing charges of planning and executing the deadly Mumbai attack.
More From This Section
However, since 2009 the case is still dragging on in a Pakistani anti-terror court though the Islamabad High Court in 2015 directed that the case should be wrapped up in two months.
Lakhvi walked free from jail in April 2015 after securing bail from the trial court, while the six others are in jail. After his release, Lakhvi went underground. He has virtually secured his acquittal with the Pakistan government indicating it has no plans to challenge his bail.
The US has also announced a USD 10 million bounty for information leading to the arrest and conviction of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed but despite periods of detention over the years, he has remained free in Pakistan.
AIPAC President Jagdish Sewhani said the international community must press the Pakistani leadership to bring the perpetrators of the horrific attack to justice.
"Instead of meeting its international obligations including implementing the UN Security Council resolutions in this regard, Pakistan has let the 26/11 masterminds roam freely inside the country. Not only that, these masterminds are openly issuing threats to India, the United States and Israel," he said.
Sewhani added Indian-Americans and Jewish-Americans need to join hands and reach out to their US representatives and senators to designate Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism.
He also urged the governments of India, the US and Israel to not only enhance their cooperation but also lead an international effort to achieve the common goal of a terrorism-free world.
"There should be a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism. The people of India, Israel and the US are the worst victims of terrorism," he said.
The homage to the victims of the Mumbai attack ended with a 'Mourner's Kaddish' - a prayer in Aramaic seeking harmony and peace - led by author Seth Seigel.