The key mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Lashkar-e-Taiba chief and globally designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed, continues to roam freely in Pakistan due to “lack” of evidence.

A decade after the 26/11 Mumbai attack, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is in touch with US authorities to extradite key conspirators especially, David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Rana, the two names that have been part of all the investigations and findings of the Mumbai Police that investigated the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

The government on Monday told the Lower House that it was in touch with US authorities regarding extradition of US based co-conspirators of the Mumbai terror attack.

To a question on sending an NIA team to Washington for the extradition process, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh, in a written response confirmed that Government of India has been engaged with the relevant US authorities to bring these individuals to India to face the laws under the provisions of Indo-US extradition treaty of 1997.

"Most recently, a team from the National Investigation Agency visited the US on December 13-15, 2018 for discussion with the US authorities," said general VK Singh. Sources have told India Today TV that a two member team visited Washington, an NIA official and a law officer.

The investigating agency, after its inception, had registered a "conspiracy case" since all other incidents related to 26/11 have already been investigated by the Mumbai Police.

NIA is now pursuing the conspiracy angle and is engaged with US to bring the conspirators to book.

"Discussions are under way. We are hopeful to get Rana but Headley seems difficult", said a source. David Coleman Headley, a Pakistani-American, has been made an approver in the case, is currently serving a 35-year prison term in the US for his role in the attack.

Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian and former Pakistani Army doctor-turned-Chicago travel agent, is being held in federal prison for plotting overseas terror strikes.

The two were allegedly involved in plotting the attack that took place on November 26, 2008, leading to the killing of over 166 people including 28 foreigners from 10 nations. The news comes at a time when India and the US have started the 2+2 dialogue.

The junior minister in MEA said that America has expressed its "commitment" towards working with its international partners to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the 26/11 attack.

"During the India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue on 06 September 2018, both sides called on Pakistan to bring to justice expeditiously the perpetrators of the Mumbai, Pathankot, Uri, and other crossborder terrorist attacks", he said.

Explaining the ways in which India is engaged with the US, General Singh said, "Government of India has engaged with relevant U.S. authorities, under terms of the India-U.S. Extradition Treaty of 1997, for extradition of U.S.-based individuals for their role in the 26/11/2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai. These consultations have been held by means of meetings/visits and teleconferences."

Even as India is moving with a firm resolve, the same does not reflect in the investigations being carried out across the border which is where the plan was hatched.

The key mastermind of the terror attacks, Lashkar-e-Taiba Chief and a globally designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed continues to roam freely in Pakistan due to "lack" of evidence.

India Today TV