Abu Jundal nails Pak lies, Malik hits back at India

New Delhi/Mumbai: Abu Jundal's confessions on Wednesday triggered a new India-Pak war of words. While Union Home Minister P Chidambaram claimed Jundal had confirmed the involvement of the Pakistan government in the 26/11 attacks, Pakistan hit back saying Jundal is an Indian citizen and that they were never involved in the Mumbai attacks.

Sayeed Zabiuddin alias Abu Jundal issuspected of directing the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks from a Karachi control room. Sources say it was Jundal who gave precise instructions to Ajmal Kasab and his nine associates on how to behave and what to wear while entering Mumbai's Taj and Oberoi hotels.

Interrogators, who are grilling Jundal, have told CNN-IBN he was recruited by a Kashmir based LeT Operative and got involved in the planning of the Mumbai terror attacks from 2008 itself. They further said that he effectively used his knowledge of Hindi, Marathi, Urdu and smattering of Arabic. Jindal even married a Pakistani woman after the 26/11 attacks.

While Chidambaram claims that Jundal has confirmed Pakistan involvement in 26/11, Malik has pointed that he is an Indian citizen.

Sources said Jundal was the highest ranked Indian in the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba and his questioning was proving to be a key link in establishing the involvement of Pakistani state actors in the 26/11 attacks.

"There was state involvement in 26/11. Jundal has confirmed that to us," said Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.

However, within hours, Pakistan retaliated questioning the Indian theory.

Rehman Malik, Advisor to Pakistan Prime Minister, said, "He is an Indian citizen. It is easy to blame us…there is no evidence. The ISI cannot be blamed for everything."

On Wednesday morning, the Mumbai police's request to a Delhi court asking for Jundal's custody was rejected, with the Delhi Police stoutly maintaining that he was in their custody till July 5 and could not be handed over.

The Delhi Police have used a November 2011 FIR to book Jundal, with charges ranging from counterfeit currency to explosives act, arms act and passport act violations. Interrogators are hopeful of uncovering a mine of information throughout his grilling.

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