26/11 Mumbai terror attacks: The redline of India-Pakistan relations

On the evening of November 26 2008 Indias commercial metropolis Mumbai witnessed vicious devastating and ruthless attacks by terrorists who played havoc for at least 66 hours The incident not only became Indias 911 moment but also the redline for any positive movement in the decades long rivalry between India and PakistanThe 66 hours between November 26 and November 29 saw one of Indias worst terror attacks as at least 10 terrorists ran rampage in Mumbais landmark areas including the Oberoi Trident Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Leopard Cafe Cama Hospital and the Taj Mahal HotelThe carnage left at least 166 innocent civilians dead and 300 others injured in the hands of the 10 terrorists The incident undoubtedly became the redline between India and Pakistan as it brought the countries on the verge of an alloutwarLike the terror attack of 911 became the United States worst nightmare and resulted in a global offensive against terrorism for India the 2611 attacks were no lessIndia claimed that the terrorists belonged to the banned outfit LashkareTaiba LeT who were recruited trained and transported from Pakistan and demanded immediate arrest and punishment of the facilitators who helped them carry out the bloodshedOver a decade has passed since the tragic incident but New Delhi still maintains that Pakistan has not done what was required of it in the case even after dozens of dossiers with what New Delhi claims are irrefutable evidence of involvement of the JamaatudDawa JUD and the LeTAs the 2611 anniversary brings back traumatising and haunting memories to the families of those who lost their lives during the terror strikes it also casts back memories of events for many in India who either lost their loved ones or witnessed the carnage in front of them Each memory filled with fear trauma and sorrowSince then India has repeatedly demand Pakistan to take decisive action against the operatives of LeT and JUD refusing to give any concessions in this regard New Delhi has maintained that if there can be any talks between India and Pakistan for any positive future discourse Islamabad will have to first punish the culprits the mastermind behind the 2611 terror attacks the chief of LeT and JUD Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and the other facilitatorsLate Sushma Swaraj Indias former Minister of External Affairs MEA had stated that offers for peace talks cannot be heard in the loud noise of terror as she responded to Islamabads offer for dialogueIn Pakistan the 2611 terror attacks were widely mourned and condemned by the people at large with its government offering to investigate the Indian allegations and bringing the culprits to justice if their involvement in the attack is proven in its courts through the process of its legal investigation frameworkThe catastrophe was described as the 911 of India by the then Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mahmood QureshiAjmal Kasab the only surviving attacker who was executed in India after the court awarded him death penalty was hailed by the LeT which declared him a hero who would inspire more attacksAjmal Kasab will be remembered as a hero and will inspire more attacks read a statement issued by the LeTThe other dreaded terror organisation with Pakistani origin the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP also vowed to avenge the execution of Kasab by targeting IndiansWhile the then sitting Pakistani government assured India of carrying out an allout investigation into the involvement of groups and individuals on its soil one Indian claim that fell on silent ears of Islamabad was that of the relationship of its powerful intelligence agencies and the military establishment with the terror groupsIndia claimed that Pakistans InterServices Intelligence ISI had harbored funded trained and facilitated the sea route access to the LeT terrorists a claim Islamabad denied and hit back at India for accusing its state institutions for harboring terror elements on its soil This claim by India has been consistently reiterated time and againAnalysts say that the Mumbai terror attacks case is under trial in the Pakistani courts where it has been maintained that the evidence provided by New Delhi in the form of dossiers is not enough to punish the accusedHowever Pakistans slow paced investigation and trial of the accused is linked with Indias allegations against its security institutions something that no country would be ready to accept or agree toIf India would have come out asking Pakistan to investigate and punish the alleged culprits involved in the Mumbai attacks Pakistan would have probably done that by now But with direct accusations against the countrys security establishment for harboring the terror groups and individuals there is no way that Pakistan would ever agree to it No country would said Javed Siddique senior strategic analystWhile Pakistan has asked India to provide more material evidence to back its claims the Mumbai terror attacks case continues to see through hearings and adjournments in the Pakistani courts in what seems to be a neverending proceeding which has put all hopes or opportunities of having the two sides sit across the table for a dialogue for peace on a complete halt that too for an indefinite period of timeKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest newsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever