MUMBAI, INDIA, AND ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — Both Pakistan and India made pointed references to the right of self-defense Tuesday, the eve of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's arrival in India to try to calm tensions in the wake of the Mumbai terrorism attacks.
The visit comes as Pakistan finds itself under growing pressure to come clean on what it knows about those behind last week's 60-hour attack on Mumbai that left more than 170 dead. The devastating rampage has created a huge challenge for the government of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, who must appear cooperative internationally without looking domestically like he's bowing to longtime rival India.
A series of leaks and disclosures from India since the attack suggest a central role by Pakistan-based militant groups. A satellite phone reportedly found aboard a trawler that brought the attackers to the shores of India's financial capital was used to communicate several times with senior members of the Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Much of the evidence seems to come from India's trump card, the sole suspected attacker captured, identified as a Pakistani. He reportedly told investigators he was trained by Lashkar, which has long worked to loosen India's grip on the disputed territory of Kashmir.
Indian commandos killed the arrested suspect's nine fellow assailants, and a senior Indian police official Tuesday declined to disclose their nationalities.
In particular, phone records reportedly lead back to the participation of Pakistan-based Yusuf Muzammil, head of Lashkar's terrorism operation, amid reports that he masterminded the well-planned attack in which the small band of fighters kept thousands of police officers at bay for more than two days.
His name appears on a list of 20 suspected terrorists that India gave to Pakistan this week, calling for their extradition.
Mumbai Police Chief Hassan Gafoor said Tuesday that the 10 heavily armed men were trained by former army officers. Although he declined to say which army, it probably was a reference to Pakistan.
Indian investigators have also identified links between the attackers and Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, identified as No. 3 in the Lashkar-e-Taiba hierarchy, according to a source familiar with the investigation.
