NEW DELHI: In a significant development that follows the National Investigation Agency (NIA)’s decision to review the 2008 Malegaon case, the agency will submit to the court the assessment of US agencies that the February 2007 Samjhauta terror attack was the handiwork of Pakistan-based Lashkar chief coordinator Arif Qasmani.The decision comes in the wake of long-standing allegations by Hindu groups that Swami Aseemanand and some others were framed by then UPA government in Samjhauta blast and that Pakistan’s role in the attack was not probed. The NIA recently gave a clean chit to Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and five others in Malegaon blast, while dropping MCOCA charges against Lt Col Shrikant Prasad Purohit and others.The NIA sources said the US, during NIA chief Sharad Kumar’s visit there in April, promised to hand over findings on Arif Qasmani within three months. The filing of US findings in court, officials said, would be part of procedure to keep the court aware of latest developments. The trial is already in an advanced stage in the case and the submission would not be part of any chargesheet, said an officer.NIA had sent a request to US in 2010 seeking details on its claims on Qasmani but it didn’t receive any reply then. But this time they agreed to provide information. As soon as the reply comes now from US, it will be assessed and submitted in the Panchkula court, asserted an officer. It’s already been one and half month since Sharad Kumar came back from US and a reply is expected soon.Interestingly, Kumar had claimed recently that Arif Qasmani angle “didn’t carry any strength”. Qasmani is presently believed to be in Karachi, Pakistan.In July 2009, UN Treasury department and US accused Qasmani of funding the Samjhauta blasts and 2006 train bombings in Mumbai. A UN sanction against him stated, “Arif Qasmani is the chief coordinator for Lashkar-e Taiba’s dealings with outside organisations and has provided significant support for LeT terrorist operations. Qasmani has worked with LeT to facilitate terrorist attacks, including the July 2006 train bombing in Mumbai, India, and the February 2007 Samjhauta Express bombing in Panipat, India. Qasmani conducted fundraising activities on behalf of LeT in 2005 and utilised money that he received from Dawood Ibrahim, an Indian crime figure and terrorist supporter, to facilitate the July 2006 train bombing in Mumbai, India”.“Since 2001, Arif Qasmani has also provided financial and other support and services to al-Qaida, including facilitating the movement of al-Qaida leaders and personnel in and out of Afghanistan, the return of foreign fighters to their respective countries, and the provision of supplies and weapons. In return for Qasmani’s support, al-Qaida provided Qasmani with operatives to support the July 2006 train bombing in Mumbai, India, and the February 2007 Samjhauta Express bombing in Panipat, India,” it said.