ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister, Mr Rehman Malik on Saturday asked India to provide access to Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist arrested for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, to facilitate the trial in Pakistan of seven suspects charged with involvement in the terrorist carnage.

Mr Malik raised the issue during a meeting with Indian High Commissioner Mr Sharat Sabharwal, during which he briefed the envoy on steps taken by Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks. Indian High Commission spokesman, Mr Siddharth Zutshi confirmed the meeting but said he was not aware of the details of the discussions between Mr Malik and Mr Sabharwal.
Official sources said that Mr Malik told the Indian envoy that Pakistani prosecutors would need to have access to Kasab once he was declared a “proclaimed offender” or fugitive by the country’s courts. The sources quoted Mr Malik as saying that once Kasab was declared a fugitive, he would become part of the trial being conducted by a Pakistani anti-terrorism court.
Mr Malik was quoted by the sources as saying that Pakistan wanted India to grant access to Kasab once his trial by a special court in Mumbai was completed. Such a move would strengthen the prosecution’s efforts to bring to justice the suspects detained by Pakistani authorities, including Lashker-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the sources said.
The special court in Mumbai is scheduled to deliver its verdict against Kasab and two Indians for their alleged role in the Mumbai attacks on May 3. The sources said Mr Malik and the Indian envoy also discussed New Delhi’s demand for action against Jamaat-ud-Dawah founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed. Mr Malik briefed Mr Sabharwal on the steps taken by Pakistani authorities against the JuD, including the sealing of the group’s offices and action against its bank accounts, websites and publications, the sources added. Mr Malik said Pakistan was keeping a close watch on Saeed and the JuD but ruled out any action till the authorities could build a solid case against founder of the LeT, the sources said.
The Interior Minister also informed Mr Sabharwal that Pakistan will respond on Sunday to three dossiers provided by India in February, the sources said. During the Foreign Secretary-level talks on February 25, India provided Pakistan three dossiers – one on individuals linked to the Mumbai attacks, another on threats issued by Pakistan-based militant commander Ilyas Kashmiri and the third on fugitives from Indian law who are in Pakistan. A Rawalpindi-based anti-terror court is currently conducting the trial of seven suspects, including LeT commander Lakhvi, who have been charged with planning and facilitating the Mumbai attacks. The prosecution has filed a petition in the Lahore High Court asking for Kasab to be declared a fugitive so that his confession can be used in the anti-terror court.