Released photos (from left): Bada Abdul Rehaman (Taj Palace); Abdul Rehaman Chota (Oberoi); Ismal Khan (CST station); Babar Imaran (Nariman House)

Indian authorities have released the names or aliases of the nine suspected militants killed during last month's attacks in the city of Mumbai (Bombay). Photographs of eight of the men were released - the body of the ninth was said to have been too badly burned. Police said all were from Pakistan. They did not say how this was known but one gunman, named as Azam Amir Qasab, survived and has been interrogated. The attacks began on 26 November and left at least 170 people dead. India has blamed Pakistani-based militants Lashkar-e-Taiba for the attacks. Earlier Pakistan said it had arrested two leading militants but that it would not hand them over to India. Sole survivor Mumbai's chief police investigator Rakesh Maria showed photographs of the men taken from their bodies or from the ID he said they were carrying. He said all were aged between 20 and 28. Some of the militants had just one name and had used aliases during training. TEN NAMED MEN Nasir, alias Abu Umar (above, Nariman House) Abu Ali (Taj Palace) Soheb (Taj Palace) Fahad Ullah (Oberoi) Azam Amir Qasab (survived) Bada Abdul Rehaman (Taj Palace) Abdul Rehaman Chota (Oberoi) Ismal Khan (CST station) Babar Imaran (Nariman House) Nazir, alias Abu Omer (Taj Palace) The youngest was identified as 20-year-old Shoaib, alias Soheb, who was said to be from Punjab province. Three attackers were said to have come from the central Pakistani city of Multan, Mr Maria said. He said the group leader was a Lashkar "veteran", Ismal Khan, 25, from North West Frontier Province. The photographs taken from dead bodies are too graphic to show. Indian investigators have said survivor Azam Amir Qasab was indoctrinated by Lashkar-e-Taiba (Soldiers of the Pure) and trained at a camp run by the group. Some media reports have suggested that truth serum may be used as part of his interrogation. Earlier Pakistani Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar said Jaish-e-Mohammad founder Masood Azhar and Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi had been held. Mr Lakhvi is the Lashkar commander India suspects of planning the Mumbai attacks. "Lakhvi was picked up yesterday. Azhar has also been picked up," Mr Mukhtar told India's CNN-IBN channel. He also repeated Islamabad's request for evidence to be shared with Pakistan.

Raid suggests policy shift Profile: Lashkar-e-Taiba Anger at 'blown' arrests "Both US and India say they have ample proof but why is it hidden from us?" Mr Mukhtar asked. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, meanwhile, repeated that Pakistan would not hand over to India any of its citizens arrested in connection with last month's attack. He said that about 16 people had been detained for questioning so far in a crackdown against banned Islamist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba. Reports say Pakistani police have also ordered the sealing of some offices used by Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the Islamic charity seen as a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba. Mr Qureshi added: "We do not want to impose war, but we are fully prepared in case war is imposed on us. We are not oblivious to our responsibilities to defend our homeland." Delhi's list Meanwhile, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said peace talks with India must proceed to "foil the designs of the terrorists". Karachi citizens give their views on India's Mumbai accusations

In pictures

"Pakistan is committed to the pursuit, arrest, trial and punishment of anyone involved in these heinous attacks," he wrote in the New York Times on Tuesday. On Monday, the US praised what it said were "positive steps" after Pakistani forces raided a camp in Pakistani-administered Kashmir used by Lashkar-e-Taiba, which India links to the attacks. But state department spokesman Sean McCormack also said it was "incumbent upon the Pakistani government to act to prevent any future terrorist attacks, to break up those networks that may be responsible for perpetrating acts of violent extremism". Delhi has not commented on the operation. Masood Azhar is one of the most wanted men in India. The group he founded, Jaish-e-Mohammad, is accused along with Lashkar-e-Taiba of taking part in the attack on India's parliament in 2001 which led the two countries to the brink of war. Mr Azhar is reportedly on a list of people Delhi has demanded Pakistan hand over. The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Karachi says Mr Azhar has been in and out of Pakistani custody over the past five years. Our correspondent says he is no longer considered to be in day-to-day charge of Jaish-e-Mohammad and detaining him will make little difference to militant activity. The group is thought to behind a string of attacks inside Pakistan as well. Although the authorities in Pakistan formally banned Lashkar six years ago and curbed its activities, its camps were never closed.



Bookmark with: Delicious

Digg

reddit

Facebook

StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version