DNA test will show Qasab is a Pakistani: Home Minister India

Saturday, January 03, 2009 5:00 PM (New Delhi)
There is another clear indication that India intends to keep up its intense diplomatic drive to get Pakistan to do something about those responsible for the Mumbai
terror attacks.Speaking exclusively on NDTV's programme Walk the Talk, Home Minister P Chidambaram has said that a DNA test with the man identified as Qasab's father can prove he is a Pakistani national.The Home Minister, who is going to the US next week, has hinted at the involvement of Pakistan government agencies in the attack.He also said that India and America will cooperate closely on investigations into the Mumbai terror attacks.Home Minister P Chidambaram said he will visit the US next week with a dossier of evidence compiled by Indian investigative agencies on the people who carried out the attacks."I will visit US next week with evidence on Mumbai attackers," he said.Chidambaram also told NDTV that behind non-state actors responsible for the Mumbai attacks there were state actors as well. "There are state actors behind non-state actors in Pakistan," Chidambaram said.Meanwhile, a report said that US will confront Pakistan with the evidence soon and demand custody of culprits. A parallel probe by US in Mumbai has found definite involvement of Pakistan Army and ISI. US has independent recording of conversation between terrorists and their handlers. Sources say that the Americans have traced Pakistani numbers to known LeT operatives with close links to ISI and they have exact coordinates of the safe houses used. Handlers of Mumbai attackers were operating from ISI safe houses during the attack, sources said. Six US nationals were killed in Mumbai terror attacks in November.US commits supportHome Minister P Chidambaram also met US Ambassador David Mulford on Saturday morning. The discussions included cooperation on setting up of India's National Investigative Agency. The US has committed support to India for this. An FBI team is still in Mumbai investigating the terror attacks and will be leaving for Pakistan soon. Sources have told NDTV that Saturday's meeting was focused on the setting up of this agency, but details about the Mumbai terror investigations also came up. US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher will be visiting India and Pakistan next week, as part of America's ongoing dialogue with the two countries in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks.