https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/02/indian_charges_two_p.php

The Long War Journal - A project of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Two men believed to be senior Pakistani Army officers are among the 38 people charged by Indian prosecutors for involvement in the November 2008 terror assault on the financial capital of Mumbai. Of the 38 men charged, 36 are Pakistani nationals.

Pakistani Army officers Major General Saab and Colonel R Saadat Ullah and six senior Lashkar-e-Taiba are among 35 men wanted by India for the assault by sea that resulted in 164 Indians and foreigners killed, according to the Press Trust of India. Indian officials have previously stated that a man described as “Major General” was one of the handlers for the Mumbai terrorists.

“Two supposedly Pakistan Army names with designations have been named in the chargesheet,” Rakesh Maria, the Joint Commissioner of Mumbai Police, told reporters. “Whether they are serving or part of the Lashkar-e-Taiba hierarchy is a part of investigation.”

Maria described the men behind the attacks as “fedayeen,” a term used for Islamist suicide squads.

Six senior leaders of the Lashkar-e-Taiba have been charged in the Mumbai assault. Hafiz Mohammed Saeed is the founder of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and its successor, the Jamaat-ud-Dawa. He is currently under a lax house arrest in Pakistan. Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi is Lashkar-e-Taiba’s senior military commander. Yusuf Muzammil is the terror group’s senior operations commander. He is currently in Pakistani custody.

Zarar Shah is the Lashkar-e-Taiba communications expert who set up the network that allowed the Mumbai terrorists to speak with Lashkar-e-Taiba commanders in Pakistan during the attack. He also served as a key liaison between the terror group and Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence agency. Zarar is currently in Pakistani custody and has admitted to his role in the Mumbai attacks.

Abu Kafa is a commander who was one of the handlers that directed the Mumbai assault teams as they conducted their attack. Abu Hamza is also a senior military commander.

Three of those charged are currently in Indian custody. They are: Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving Mumbai terrorist; and Indian nationals Fahim Ansari and Sabauddin, both of whom were aware of the plan to strike the city. All three men are Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives. Sabauddin served as the leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba in Nepal and aided in smuggling Lashkar terrorists across the border between India and Pakistan.

The other Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives and facilitators who have been charged have been identified as Mohammad Sayed, Abu Al Kama, Abu Fahad, Abu Abdul Rehman, Abu Anas, Abu Imran, Abu Mufti Sayed, Hakim Saab, Yousif, Murshid, Atib, Abu Umar Sayed, Usman, Karak Singh, Mohammad Ishfaq, Javid Iqbal, Sajid Iftekar, Kuram Shahbad, Abu Abdur Rehman, Abu Mavia, Abu Anees, Abu Bashir, Abu Khan, Abu Sariya, Abu-ur-Rehman, Abu Imran, and Hakim Saheb.

India released a dossier of evidence for the Mumbai case in early January 2008 detailing conversations between the handlers and the Mumbai assault team as the operation was underway as well as information on the planning of the attacks and the transportation and communications that were used.

Pakistani officials initially dismissed the dossier, with one senior diplomat claiming it may have been “fabricated.” The Pakistani government ultimately admitted that the attacks were plotted on its soil and has filed a police report against Lakhvi, Zarar, Abu Hamza, and five other Pakistanis. Six of those charged are in Pakistani custody.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.