Durrani's revelation strengthens India's case against Hafiz Saeed: Defence Experts

Following the revelation made by Pakistan's former national security advisor Mahmud Ali Durrani's on the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, defence experts have said that his statement will go a long way in strengthening India's case against Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the attack, who is currently under house arrest in Pakistan.

"Mr. Durrani said this attack was master-minded by an organization based in Pakistan thereby indicating loud and clear that the master mind Hafiz Saeed is the one who was involved in it but further stated that the Pakistan Government was no way involved in whatsoever, which shows Pakistan's confusion in making statements," Defence expert Ranjeet Rai told ANI.

 

Echoing similar sentiments, another defence expert P.K. Sehgal said that Durrani was removed from the position of NSA because he accepted the fact that Kasab, the lone survivor, was from Pakistan.

"Mr Durrani said that he was removed as NSA because he stated that this attack was master-minded by an organization based in Pakistan. In actuality he was removed not because of this but because he accepted the fact that Kasab, the lone survivor, was from Pakistan," Sehgal said.

Earlier on Monday, Durrani said the Mumbai terror attack was carried out by a terror outfit based in Pakistan and added that it was a classic trans-border terrorist event.

"The 26/11 Mumbai attack, carried out by a terror group based in Pakistan, is an example of a classic trans-border terrorist event," he said while speaking at the 19th Asian Security Conference being held at the Institute of Defence and Studies and Analyses.

He said that because he held on this view, the government was not too pleased and it could one of reasons why he lost his job as the National Security Advisor (NSA).

Durrani also said that Jamaat-ud-Dawachief Hafiz Saeed had no utility and Pakistan should act against him.

Mahmud Ali Durrani, a retired army general, was the National Security Advisor to the Pakistani government when 10 Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai after hijacking a boat and killed at least 164 people and wounding 308 across the city.