Date:04/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/04/stories/2008120455211000.htm

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Advani sees Pakistan agencies’ role in attacks

Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI: At a meeting with United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior BJP leader L.K. Advani emphasised that the Mumbai attacks could not have been carried out without the Pakistan agencies’ knowledge, guidance and training.

India’s concerns

While Ms. Rice reportedly told Mr. Advani that these concerns would be registered with Pakistan, Mr. Advani pointed out that Islamabad had repeatedly assured New Delhi that it would not allow its soil to be used for launching attacks on India.

In this context, he referred to the joint India-Pakistan statement issued in Islamabad in January 2004.

Mr. Advani said the terror attacks may have been executed by members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, but Pakistan agencies would be in the know and would have had a role to play in terms of training and providing resources.