NEW DELHI: Birds twittered as they always do; waves broke and washed the shore as they always do.
But Saturday morning Mumbaikars (as the residents of Mumbai are popularly referred to) were torn between anger, sadness and tears — nostalgia ran across the city marking the third anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks.
Solemn promises were repeated, as were threats. Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna said India is waiting for Pakistan to act “decisively” after providing it with evidence on alleged perpetrators who are living in Pakistan and the evidence provided was “sufficient” to prosecute those behind the “inhuman act”.
Meanwhile, Ajmal Kasab – the lone gunman caught alive after the attack and kept in a high-security egg-shaped prison cell in a jail in Mumbai – woke up to a regular morning.
He was made aware of the third death anniversary of the people he had killed.
Oblivious to the importance of the day, he ate potato curry for lunch and pohe (beaten rice) for breakfast — a day like any other for him, but a day that changed lives of hundreds of families in India.
‘India is still waiting’
While remembering the lost ones with a heavy heart, India urged Pakistan to take strong action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attack that killed 166 people, three years ago.
The Indian foreign minister said that the use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy has no place in today’s world and is self-destructive.
“We are still waiting for Pakistan to act decisively to bring to justice the perpetrators of the mindless violence that was unleashed on Mumbai. We are still waiting,” Krishna told reporters.
“I think the evidence provided by the ministry of home affairs would be sufficient for any normal civilian court to prosecute the people involved in the conspiracy and the perpetrators of this crime,” asserted Krishna.
“We call upon all our neighbours to join us in this endeavour of building a better future for our peoples,” he said.
Mumbai grieves
Meanwhile, in the homes of victims of the horrific attack, sadness lay like heavy fog. Relatives went to the police memorial and laid flowers and wreaths. Many donated blood. But many were outraged that they had not received justice.
“Why has Kasab not been hanged yet? Are we waiting for another 26/11-type horrific attack?” 13-year-old Devika Rotwan asked.
On November 26, 2008, Devika’s father Natwarlal was waiting at Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) with her and son Akash when two terrorists opened fire at the railway station. Shot in the right leg, Devika was the youngest eyewitness to depose in the court.
For Kalpana Shah, who lost her husband Pankaj in the attack at the Oberoi Hotel, it has not been easy to forget the ordeal. “It has been three years...justice has not been served... Kasab is still alive,” she said with a heavy heart.
Wearing white shirts, the bold and the beautiful of Mumbai – from Bollywood stars to item girls, from film singers to the denizens of Bigg Boss – walked to the Nariman Point to mark the third anniversary.
Media networks were torn in two: While Sachin Tendulkar was playing in his home ground at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai to earn his elusive hundredth ton, tears of the 26/11 victims’ widows made for great visuals too.
On Saturday, India paid homage to the victims and martyrs with hope and courage.
“We also salute the courage and fortitude of the families who lost their loved ones in that senseless act of violence,” said Krishna.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 27th, 2011.
COMMENTS (91)
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@Homa: The whole world is yelling about this attack. NATO / US have accepted their mistake and have ordered the inquiry into the incident. You are perhaps living in a different world of your own. For God sake use your common sense before you write.
Very strange response from the Pak side. If I may summarize:
"We're getting screwed every day by either the militants...I mean terrorists and NATO. Therefore India don't complain about one lousy attack."
Pak bhaiyon aur behnon: Even if ONE innocent life is lost, the perpetrator must pay. This is the meaning of justice. I feel really bad for you people that things have got so bad in your country you don't understand the meaning of this.
Indian bhaiyon aur behnon: Lets not forget how long it takes to get justice in India. It may take them 50 years, but it takes us 10-20. We need to get better as well if we want to be a great country. And hopefully pull our neighbors along.
@Usman
We're asking for justice not a lecture.
Man all i have to say is.. that after seeing the way everyone is dealing blows to the other side. You have all helped ISI, RAW CIA etc (whoever you like to blame) succeed in their mission. You are divided to the core, when you look to the other side, you see a flag not a human face, you hear nationalistic songs not humans crying out for help. So divided that all you see are flags and borders. I've always found flags funny because they serve such a stupid purpose, they are supposed to be a representation of a human population united, but united against what? just other humans. Well done to my family of 1.2 + billion. You have all fallen pray to propaganda and all lost track of the bigger picture, keep accusing each other while the select few on both sides feed you the same stuff again and again and live like kings. Shabash.
@Pradeep: Reflection of facts as part of a discussion is surely not an insult to anyone. However it does provide some guidelines for India to be realistic and more positive in its approach towards conflict resolution.
A cursory look at Indian security forces,
Indian Security personnel: Indian Army - World's 3rd largest: 1,325,000 (regulars) + 2,142,821 (reserves) = 3,467,821 Indian Paramilitary Forces 1,300,586 Indian Navy - World's 5th largest: 67,000 Indian Air Force - World's 4th largest: 170,000 Indian Coast Guard 19,741 Indian Police (all cadres) around 3,000,000
TOTAL: 8,025,148
India has the world's 10th largest defense budget: USD 33.35 Billion
With all the above, they can not even ensure the security of their own borders and ask for Pakistan's help. I suggest India to disband their security apparatus and lease it to Pakistan. I am sure Pakistan can do a better job than Indians.
@Misbah: No one in Pakistan knows or cares who Dawood Ibrahim is. Deal with your own demons please
At least the US takes revenge for India if India is too much of a coward. The 28 killed were on the anniversary of the attack on 26-11.
@Roflcopter: Evidence will not fall from heaven. Your gov has accepted that all the terrorists involved were from Pakistan. Its up to your government to investigate how the planning was done and who did it, who provided military level training to these terrorists who gave them the wepons which only armed forces can procure. India has given all the evidence it has and even allowed Pakistani authorities to interrogate ajmal kasab. Why has Pakistan still not sent judicial commission to India even after 3 years.
@Hu Jintao: I am sure you are still rolling with laughter even as NATO has gunned down 24+ Pakistan soldiers. People like you have no respect for life.
@Hu Jintao: if i(4m Hyderabad) may inform u,samjhauta blasts accused r behind bars without bail n r being investigated n i promise u they will b punished..India is a democracy n it wont wait for any reciprocal justice,v punish guilty without any favour...the same accused carried out Malegaon,Ajmer,Mecca masjid etc.,blasts...v will punish them..pakistan is making fun of mumbai attacks by allowing LET member Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi phone in jail...u r not serious it seems
@Hu Jintao: Try to keep your country in single piece before uncle sam attacks another check post
Lolz.. India get in line.. Its been 3 years only.. People of Pakistan have been waiting for their case to come to Pakistan civil courts and courts to provide them fair Justice for 50 years now.. Some of them died before that happen and in few cases when their case were presented in court they were dead for 20 years.. Lolz.. Get in line my Indian Friends this the harsh reality of Pakistani Justice System. Their is no justice here, the person who has money, power and weapons is right in Pakistan rest are wrong.. Majority of Pakistani people are suppressed and dictated by these few people.
@Hu Jintao: Of course you can only be from Pakistan. All the best to you and your country.
@hedgefunder: i roll on the floor literally everytime you indians say that you won all wars. seriously get your head out of the sand.
Its good to be delusional and brainwashed. Thats what they teach you in school 1948 where we liberated 50% Kashmir. Hows that count as your victory? similarly you failed in your objectives in 65' and the war ended in cease-wire and not on win-loose factor 71 is only thing perhaps where your were able to overcome a eastern part of country 1/50 of your size. on the western front, failed yet again
No point in demanding or even expecting something from Pak establishments regarding bringing the culprits of Mumbai carnage to justice. There is no well as no capability. They could not even bring to justice their own people like assassination of their formal prime minister, Panjab Governor, LeJ and many more. In fact there is no single case where justice has been done. Hence India should do what in it's capacity and that's it.
@buttjee: On eevidence of Ajmal Kasab should be enough. Now ofcourse w ehave David Headley.
India rampaged through the sacred sikh golden temple, killed sikh leaders and humiliated its followers. India used artillery against its own Sikh people in the residential neighborhoods of Amristar Indian police and para-military stood by idly as 3000+ Sikhs were murdered during the Sikh Riots sponsored by the govt.. India government stood by idly as the destruction of Babri Masjid took place Indian state government of Gujrat headed by Modi committed a state-sponsored pogrom in gujrat killing 2000+ Muslims and displacing 100,000. India has slaughtered 70,000-130,000 civilians in Kashmir Indian forces have raped 9900 women in Kashmir India maintains an army 0f 700,000 soldiers in Kashmir (50% of its total army and greater than the entire Army of neighboring Pakistan) against the civilian population of that small state which numbers less than 4 million people. India massacred peaceful Kashmiri protests in Gowkadal, Maisuma and Bijbehara human rights organization like Amnesty International and Asia Watch constantly report of indescribably inhumane treatment meted out to Kashmiris in government run torture cells and elsewhere “The Armed Forces (J&K) Special Powers Bill (1990), which have been passed by the parliament of world’s largest “democracy”. This Bill grants authorization to members of Indian Security Forces to “fire upon or otherwise use force, even to the causing of death against any person” without fire orders. 100,000+ people have been brutally murdered by the Indian Security Forces in the past 20 years and thousands more have been intimidated and terrorized
According to a recent report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) up to 50 million girls and women are missing from India’ s population as a result of systematic gender discrimination in India. Most victims are of grisly INFANTICIDE not ABORTION.
@Hu Jintao: Well said mate, we do not expect anything different from you or the likes of you. And please do not have a change of heart tomorrow and start thinking any differently.
Because that's what provides us entertainment :-).
And here our foreign minister is hoping India will get justice for 26/11, which actually India should not even be asking. It must be natural for any country to go after perpetrators.
Ah, any country not Pakistan. Sorry, we Indians forget you all need to start providing justice for your own people first!
@Mona: "We are sick of people demanding this or that! India is responsible for its own security. And that is it."
Applying the same logic, since Pakistan is responsible for the security of its soldiers, the responsibility for the deaths of the 24/28 soldiers lies with Pakistan.
NATO, whom Pakistan in no way controls shares no responsibility for these deaths.
And that is it.
@Mona: "We are sick of people demanding this or that! India is responsible for its own security. And that is it."
Applying the same logic, Since Pakistan is responsible for the security of its soldiers, the responsibility for the deaths of the 24/28 soldiers who died lies with Pakistan.
First things first - the democratic goverment of Pakistan has to respond to the request of it's people about stopping the genocide on it's own people rather than waste time listening to lies from India. . . .
Mullah Omar and LeT leader and 26/11 organizer Hafeez Muhammad are spiritual leaders engaged in charity work and preaching religious tolerance in Pakistan. If you have any doubts ask the allegation rejection and refutation department of FO.
I personally do not expect any action on any one of the accuses who attacked/planned Mumbai attack. India has provided voice samples of all terrorist, its Pakistan who is not even providing voice samples in returns. Why? Whats the wrong to provide voice sample? Lets match the voice sample and find out all the terrorists. Is it so difficult to get voice sample for Pakistan? Shame on you who is protecting those Mumbai killers. Really its a very very shameful. Non other than a coward can protect those terrorist. I started hating Pakistan after 26/11.
The attack on pakistani soldiers by NATO chopper is a baseless fabrication. No such attack took place. Where is the evidence? Pakistan needs to show the world credible evidence to prove that NATO did it. It is not providing any evidence so far. The pilot of the helicopter was last seen using the word allah in an interrogation video released on the internet. This proves that the pilot of the helicopter was a pakistani muslim. It was an inside job by their own people.
You see folks... this game can be played by everybody!
Why India is silent on David Headley. He should be produced in India for trial. Why Americans won't give him to India and what they have to hide.
@Misbah:
opps..you forgot to add Bal Thakre as a hero in your list.
Misbah you forgot your hero Moodi who is responsible for killing 2000 Indian Muslims, you also forgot your heroin Indra Gandhi who attacked the holiest place of Sikhs and killed hundreds of Sikhs, you also forgot that Dawood Ibrahim is Indian
@hedgefunder: We don't beg for aid. This is not our war. We expect payment to fight America's war and please leave us alone. Why don't you abuse fellow Indians in times of India?
@Mona: We are sick of people demanding this or that! India is responsible for its own security. And that is it.
Shame that, you are not sick of begging for AID and stressing about your Nation being a greatest victim of terrorism, which incidenttally is of your making, by providing shelter and resources to the so called Strategic Assets and Proxy Non State Actors, to cause mayhem in neighnouring countries !!!!!!
Congress government of India has not done anything to catch the "Indians" who were involved in 26/11 such as Rahul Bhat and other logistic suppliers who made it possible for these militants to come in and act...Yet Congress is trying to blame Pak for this... shame India...
@Abdul Rehman Khan
What are you talking Abdul? India has already taken action against the perpetrators of Samjhautha express blast. India doesn't need Pakistan to tell what to do. We are a responsible nation.
@Mona: In that case pakistan should accept today's NATO attack killing 24 soldiers and not protest. Afterall pakistan is also responsible for its own security.
@Hu Jintao: yea, but not abbottabad
India has better chances in apealing Afghan Taleban to act against Mullah Omar.
just wait for the investigation..... u may convey this thru dialogue and not thru media if u are serious in progressing with Pakistan
@Zameer: Whole world? even Ecuador and Puerto Rico?
@shafi Ahmed: If they put culprits of Samjhuta Express to justice. culprits of Mumbai will be put too because of them are same
@Timepass:
Good Luck selling mirror to a blind man.
@Wow: You call UNITED STATES actions as world's action. how smart of you.
It's good to read the genuine feelings and opinions of Indians and Pakistanis about each other. Sometimes we are too deluded by the opinions of extremist liberals who have no real meaning in the mutual context.
@Hu Jintao: Well history suggests different!! As Pak Army has always lost every war its engaged in so far!!!! Perhaps they forgot to teach you that in school !!!
peace guys....!for god sake v r discussing deaths...both the culprits of mumbai attacks n samjhauta blasts must be brought to book...im sure and confident that my nation,being a law abiding n biggest democracy will bring culprits to book...but iam losing confidence day by day in pakistan's will to book those involved in 26/11 (:
If Indians are serious then they should set an example.
How about punishing Colonel Prohet who burned Samjota Express resulting into death of hundreds of Pakistanis Second - We have courts and courts need some proof. We do not kill people as Indian Forces kill in Kashmir or in Eastern Indian Region.
I don't give two hoots about anyone who died in that Godforsaken country. What matters to me are martyrs in my country!!
We are still waiting for hanging of terrorist Indian army general Lt. Shrikant Prasad Purohit, the terrorist criminal Indian army officer behind Samjhauta bomb blasts.
TO GOI
Do not EXPECT to change Objectionable behaviour of Pakistan.If Pakistan is sincere than Perpetrators of 26/11 Ghastly terror attack should be in jail, convicted or handed over to India.
India should act diplomatically and VOID any further reconcillation process with pakistan. There is NO IF and BUTs.
Terror as intstrument of foreign policy MUST STOP for any further improvement of relation with India. GOI Must state this LOUD and CLEAR.
I wonder why ET is running this as main story when 20 something soldiers are murdered by US.
@Timepass: Evidence comes in PBS documentary? Last time I checked if evidence need a documentary and consent manufacturing tools like PBS it is called propaganda not evidence.
Evidence keep changing, list keeps updating. More like a single digit IQ soap on Star TV.
@Sani Bhagwan: You and your likes sound funny when you say that we are harboring and supporting same terrorists who are causing havoc and damage to state of Pakistan. What a flawed concept seriously your RAW terrorists are arming and recruiting people all over Afghanistan to carry out suicide bombings and sectarian violence and causing insurgency in Balochistan. what do you have to say about that?... and dont give me "we are innocent, we do nothing " speech
@hedgefunder: We are ready, dont even worry about. Big fishes to fry first and i heard they taste tasty
@Vaqar - UK: Aye
Tired of their rhetoric.
first investigate Ajmal Kasab who was praying to bhagwan in the interrogation video. Is he one of saffron terror groups
secondly Get your list right. most of them are found in india.
thirdly, tell us who killed tupac shakur
You guys didn't think you could harbor people who massacre you neighbors - do nothing about it - and keep doing business as if nothing happened -- doesn't happen in the real World.
For their own former Prime Minister assassination they are seeking the help of UN, there is no use in demanding anything from their impotent officials, let us hang Kasab first.
@momi: samjhota express is not a case of cross border terrorism and does not involve only Pakistani nationals.In this case Indian government has itself charged the culprit not on prompting from Pakistan.Accused person are being persecuted and law is taking due course.A dare devil attack on busy public place with clearly identified target like foreigners,Jew etc is different from a bomb going off in unsuspecting place.The Mumbai attack has backing of much bigger hand and pan India aim.
we are waiting hanging of Lakhvi And Hafis sayyeed
@Hamid.... india always wait for such moments.... if PAK-US tensions increased a bit further, india will raise another false flag operation... similar to mumbai drama.... and that comes from chapter 5 section 3: Arthashastra.....
@Pradeep Pakistanis (soldiers and civillians) get martyred everyday! We guys get whacked from both sides (US and millitants) and we have putting up with THAT insult for 10 years. So my message is grow up and deal with it!
@Pradeep: As indifferent as this may sound, we have our own martyrs to worry about (people are being martyred here every single day from internal and external/NATO enemies), we don't have time to be concerned about your martyrs and take action, that too on a useless and inadequate piece of evidence.
We demand India prosecute the 100,000 killed and 10,000 raped in kashmir by their security forces.
World's answer to Pak's 24/11 on the same day. Great.
yawnnnn........sleeeepppss...
@Roflcopter:
Exactly. Provide us notarized statements from each of the 9 dead 'terrorists' that confirm your meaningless allegations of Pakistans' involvement. That would be a good starting point. Also we need to personally interview these 9 (dead) individuals to make sure they were not coerced into making these statements.
india finds the right time to attak while pakistan and US are face to face
Give it a break!!!!!!
As bad as the wounds of 26/11 are, the indifferent comments by Pakistanis is an insult to those who were martyred that day...
One act of terrorism cannot be justified by another act. The Samjhota Express incident of terrorism cannot and should not be taken as an excuse for ignoring the Mumbai incident of terrorism. Justice demands that action on Mumbai incident against its paklistani perpetrators should be taken by the GOP and it shouldn't be made any excuse for lalck of action on samjhota express on the part of India. However, India should also take action on samjhota express incident and punish the perpetrators without waiting for the parallel action by Pakistan. It's absolutely unwise for both nuclear powers to get involve in such provocative incidents and take no action against the perpetrators for one reason or the other.
Yeah, keep supporting the terrorists.... For every 1 attack in India, they make at-least 10 successful attacks in pakistan. Bombing mosques is their favorite sport. 200 terrorism related deaths in India, 30,000 terrorism related deaths in pakistan. Its seems like a good trade-off. Supporting terrorists is good for the economy too, as evidenced by the spectacular growth the country is witnessing. Keep it going for another decade, pakistan will become a prosperous country.
The whole world accepts that the evidence presented to Pakistan is conclusive - except Pakistan of course. Well, it is that attitude that has brought Pakistan to the brink.
@Omar: Yes, very true !! Get ready as this is going to become more blatant and frequent too !!!
@Roflcopter: Herez the evidence : http://video.pbs.org/video/2169905444
PR stunt by the indians to mark the 'anniversary'
Shut it India, we have to deal with the NATO attack first. Take a number and get in line.
People blamed by India cannot be put on trial only because India wants them to be tried. In spite of Pakistan's repeated requests India has failed to provide any evidence. I hope common sense will prevail on the Indian side and focus will be shifted towards the resolution of conflicts.
and we demand some action about samjhota express too..Do unto others as you would have them do unto you...
Those favouring MFN status for India - Say Aye!
Ok.
geez at least provide proper evidence before moaning.