On the tenth anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the US has announced a fresh reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual involved in the plotting or facilitating of the 2008 attack. It called it a “barbarity” and asked Pakistan to uphold its obligations to implement the sanctions against those responsible for the act of terror. The State Department released a statement saying, “The US Department of State's rewards for justice (RFJ) program is offering a reward of up to US $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who committed, conspired to commit, or aided or abetted in the execution of the 2008 Mumbai attack.”
In a separate statement, it said, “Key members of this heinous plot remain at large, and this investigation remains active and ongoing. This reward offer extends to any individual who bears responsibility for this act of terror.”
The move came less than a fortnight after Vice President Mike Pence held a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Singapore, during which he is believed to have himself raised this issue and rued that the perpetrators had not been brought to justice. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, “It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after 10 years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement. We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates.”
The announcement marks the third RFJ reward offer seeking information on the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack. In December 2001, the Department of State designated LeT as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation. In April 2012, the US had announced a $10 million bounty on LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, but despite periods of detention, he currently moves around freely in Pakistan.
India asks Pak to give up double standards
On the tenth anniversary of the attacks, India yet again called upon Pakistan to abandon “double standards” and expeditiously bring the perpetrators to justice. In a statement, an MEA spokesperson said Islamabad had shown “little sincerity” in punishing those involved in the attack and its planners were still roaming the streets of Pakistan with “impunity”. The statement said, “The attack was planned, executed and launched from Pakistan. The former PM of Pakistan had earlier this year admitted that terrorists were sent from Pakistan’s soil. We once again call on Government of Pakistan to give up double standards and expeditiously bring the perpetrators to justice. This is not just a matter of Pakistan’s accountability to the families of the innocent victims, but also an international obligation.”
Meanwhile, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh struck a combative note at an event where he laid the foundation of the Kartarpur corridor. He delivered a sharp warning to Pakistan army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa asking him to stop the brutal killings of Indian soldiers and innocent civilians.
