Indian government sources say Pakistan realised how important a catch Abu Jundal was as they tried to stall his deportation to this country for almost two months. Officials claim Pakistan was fully aware that Jundal’s disclosures will cause them immense embarrassment at the international level on the fight against terror so they lobbied very hard with Saudi intelligence agencies to stop Jundal being sent to India.
In fact, sources added, Pakistan wanted that Jundal should be handed over to them, claiming that he was a Pakistani national. But Indian intelligence agencies presented a foolproof case to their Saudi counterparts, convincing them with hard evidence like DNA, photographs, chargesheets and other legal documents related to Jundal.
The Union home ministry on Tuesday received a formal letter from Pakistan’s interior ministry saying evidence and details of Jundal’s interrogation should be shared with them to help the 26/11 investigations at their end.
The home ministry has, meanwhile, communicated to the Maharashtra government that Jundal will be interrogated by the Central agencies first, and only this interrogation by Central agencies is complete, he will then be handed over to the Mumbai police.
MHA sources said Jundal will be provided with high-security cover as he faces a heightened threat of attacks by both Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and ISI operatives.
“Jundal is now on the hitlist of the LeT-ISI combine”, a security official said.
MHA sources said foolproof arrangements would be made for Jundal’s security, both in custody and when he is travelling to ensure there were no slip-ups.
Jundal was arrested in an already existing case by the Delhi police. The FIR was registered in November last year against 13 Indian Mujahideen militants nabbed across the country. The case relates to the Jama Masjid firing allegedly carried out by the IM, among others. Jundal and the others were booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention act, Explosives Substances Act, Sections 471/489b/489c/120b of IPC, Section 12 of the Passport Act and Section 25 of the Arms Act.
Sources said India is yet to receive any information from Saudi Arabia on terror accused Fasih Mohammed, who is alleged to be missing from his home in the Gulf since last month.
There is a red corner notice against Fasih as he is wanted for attacks on foreign tourists at Jama Masjid.
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‘Sarab u-turn not related to jundal arrest’
AGE CORRESPONDENT
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUNE 27
Union home minister P. Chidambaram said that Pakistan’s sudden about-turn on Sarabjit Singh’s release was not related to the capture of Abu Jundal.
The minister, while talking to reporters here on Wednesday, said that he was not sure why Sarabjit’s name was first announced and then replaced with another prisoner, Surjeet Singh. “May be, there could be some internal hiccups,” he said.
Four hours after an order was issued to release Sarabjit “immediately”, the Pakistani establishment did a midnight U-turn declaring Surjeet Singh as the free bird.