US helped India probe Mumbai terror attacks, says ex-envoy David C Mulford

LONDON: A former US ambassador to India has said that after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks Washington had facilitated intelligence sharing between the two countries on counter-terrorism issues and helped India in investigation and identification of the persons involved in the assault.

David C Mulford, who was the US envoy at the time of the attacks, also confirmed that gadgets used by the terrorists were traced to Pakistan, according to a release issued by the India Debate Forum which had organised the discussion in a House of Lords committee room earlier this week.

Mulford said the mobile and satellite phones used by the attackers and handlers were traced to Pakistan and the US authorities cooperated with Indian authorities in preparing dossiers of those involved in the attack.

Other key speakers at the discussion included BJP national spokesperson M J Akbar, who described Pakistan as a "terrorist country, not Islamic", which was sheltering terrorists and exporting terrorism which was a cause of serious concern for India.

On the issue of Afghanistan, Akbar stressed that India and the US have emphasised the need for action against the Haqqani Network in the joint statement signed during the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US.