Islamabad: Pakistan accused India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of orchestrating last month’s car bombing near the Lahore residence of 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed that killed three people and left 24 injured. National Security Adviser (NSA) Dr Moeed Yousaf claimed “the whole drama about some mysterious drones flying in Jammu and Kashmir” was a “deflection tactic” in the face of Pakistan gathering proof of the alleged Indian hand in the bombing.
“We have concrete evidence and intelligence, including financial and telephone records, of this particular incident in Lahore, which points towards direct Indian sponsorship of these terrorists,” Yousaf said at a presser with minister Fawad Chaudhry and Punjab police chief Inam Ghani.
Soon after, PM Imran Khan appreciated law-enforcement agencies for “unearthing evidence” of the bombing and urged the world community to take note of India’s “rogue behaviour. I appreciate the diligence and speed of Punjab police’s counter terrorism department...and commend the excellent coordination of all our civil and military intelligence agencies,” he tweeted. On June 23, an explosives-laden vehicle blew up near the house of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief in Lahore’s Johar Town. “We have absolutely no doubt or reservation in informing you that the main mastermind of the attack is an Indian citizen, and he is associated with RAW,” Yousaf said. The NSA said there were thousands of coordinated cyber attacks on Pakistan’s information infrastructure that day. “We have evidence... The cyber attacks were an attempt to foil our investigation and buy time for the terror network to disperse.”
“...the scale at which the cyber attacks were mounted, there is no doubt that there was state involvement of our neighbour.” Yousaf alleged India had been using “territory and people in third countries” to carry out attacks in Pakistan.
“We have identified the person who was delegated the task to... execute the attack,” Punjab police chief Ghani said, identifying the suspect as Eid Gul. According to details shared by Ghani, a third suspect named Ziaullah provided financing for the car to Peter Paul David, who handed over the vehicle to Gul.
