Mumbai attack carried out by Pak nationals: Mulford

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New Delhi: Treading cautiously on the alleged involvement of Pakistani official agencies in the Mumbai terror attack, the US ambassador David Mulford has said that accusations could not be made ‘‘without proof’’.

When asked whether the US suspected the involvement of official agencies in the Mumbai attack, the American envoy replied, ‘‘I don’t want to make accusations without proof.’’

He said the Mumbai attack appeared to have been carried out by people from Pakistan and ‘‘managed and monitored by Pakistan’’.

Talking to mediapersons at a farewell function organised for him by the CII, Mulford said, ‘‘It appears that it has been conducted by Pakistani people who have been trained in Pakistan. It appears to have been managed and monitored in Pakistan.’’

However, at the request of the incoming administration, his departure has been extended for a few weeks.

Days after Pakistan officially admitted the nationality of Ajmal Kasab, the lone Mumbai attacker who is currently in Indian custody, Mulford said, ‘‘We are pursuing the probe to bring the people who conducted these heinous acts to book. We will press ahead as long as it takes.’’

In a hard-hitting speech, Prime minister Manmohan Singh had said earlier this week that ‘‘given the sophistication and military precision of the (Mumbai) attack it must have had the support of some official agencies in Pakistan’’.

The US said it can’t ‘‘make accusations without proof’’ but underlined that it would ‘‘press ahead’’ to bring the perpetrators of the carnage to justice.

‘‘It’s going to take time and patience but also considerable restraint,’’ Mulford said in an effort bid to ease the growing tensions between India and Pakistan over the Mumbai attacks.

He, however, said the civilian government in Pakistan needed to be supported as both India and the US had stakes in seeing Pakistan succeed and not end up as a failed state.