India could have avoided Mumbai attack: Malik

Rezaul H Laskar

Islamabad, Aug 28 (PTI) Facing strident calls to bring
the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice, Pakistan
says the terror strike last November "would not have happened"
if India had shared information about some suspects in time.

Islamabad also said it will examine the fresh evidence
provided by India on the basis of which Interpol issued a Red
Corner Notice against JuD chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, the
prime accused in planning and executing the 26/11 attacks.

At a news conference in London yesterday, Pakistan
Interior Minister Rehman Malik claimed how India could have
avoided the Mumbai attack while making a reference to Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh's recent remarks that there is
credible information Pakistan-based terror groups might carry
out fresh attacks in India.

"Please give us some information. We want that
information because we want to go to the depth (of the
matter)," he said.

Noting that India had arrested several suspects well
before the Mumbai attacks, Malik claimed the incident "would
not have happened" if Islamabad had received information in
this regard in time.

Malik claimed Pakistan has fully cooperated with the
Indian government on the Hafiz Saeed issue on the basis of
information provided to it.

"We will examine it (the Red Corner Notice)," Malik
said in response to a question on the Interpol notice issued
for Saeed. He said "certain procedures were required to
pursue" the (Interpol) notice.

Referring to the latest dossier handed over by India,
Malik said Paksitan needs to examine whether "it meets the
procedural requirements". He added: "We need tangible evidence
which can stand the test of the court." PTI RHL
DDC