By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

MUMBAI, India – The terrorist attacks in Mumbai resulted in 188 people dead and at least 200 injured. The gunmen opened fire in several locations including a railway station, restaurant, hospital, a Jewish center, and two hotels, the Taj Mahal Palace and Oberoi-Trident.

India has made clear that it suspects that the attacks originated in Pakistan. India believes that the attack “was carried out by elements from Pakistan” and “the government expects that strong action would be taken against those elements.”

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari told CNN’s Larry King that “Pakistan is in no way responsible.” “Even the White House and the American CIA have said that today. The state of Pakistan is, of course, not involved. We’re part of the victims.”

One of the captured gunmen is held in police custody. According to Indian officials, he is Pakistani and trained by Lashkare-Tayyiba, a terrorist group based in Pakistan that has aligned itself with al Qaeda. Lashkare-Tayyiba has denied any involvement.

Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee stated that the 10 attackers hijacked a trawler in Karachi and arrived in Mumbai by way of dinghies.

Mumbai’s police chief, Hasan Gafoor, said that a global positioning system (GPS) was recovered showing that the attackers originated in Pakistan.

India has demanded that Pakistan extradite 20 suspects who have taken refuge in Pakistan. Most of them are rebel leaders and many were connected to the 2001 attack on India’s Parliament and the 2006 attack on the Indian embassy in Afghanistan.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi stated that “this is not a time to point fingers” and proposes a common strategy between the two countries.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice said as she went to New Delhi, India, “Everyone should cooperate fully, and Pakistan in particular needs to cooperate fully and transparently.”

For more information, please see:

BBC News – India Makes Protest to Pakistan – 1 December 2008

CNN – Rice Heads to India to Ease Tensions – 2 December 2008

U.S. News & World Report – India Points Finger at Pakistan Over Mumbai Terrorist Attacks – 2 December 2008