Expressing concern: India disappointed over ISI’s immunity in US civil suit
US files affidavit in response to wrongful death suit brought by American relatives of 2008 Mumbai attacks victims.
NEW DEHLI:
New Delhi has expressed disappointment over an affidavit filed by the US State Department regarding immunity for Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and two of the agency’s former director generals.
The US State Department filed the statement in the Eastern District Court of New York, in response to a wrongful death suit brought by the American relatives of the victims of 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
In response to media queries, the spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said, “It remains of vital importance for India that justice is done and that those who organised and perpetrated this horrible crime be brought to justice, irrespective of the jurisdiction under which they may reside or operate.”
“Our position has been made known to the US consistently,” the spokesperson maintained, implying New Delhi had expected the US to act differently. He asserted that Washington would have to explain a stance which appeared ‘at variance with its stated objective in the war on terror’.
“India is not a party to the civil suit filed in the Eastern District Court of New York. The details of what was conveyed to the court by a sovereign government are a matter for that government to explain,” the spokesperson added.
“From our perspective, this decision is a matter of deep and abiding concern. The leadership of the US has publicly stated its commitment to counter terrorism, to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and to bring those responsible for the Mumbai terror attacks to justice. In this context the decision of the US authorities in this case is a cause of serious disappointment.”
New Delhi has expressed disappointment over an affidavit filed by the US State Department regarding immunity for Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and two of the agency’s former director generals.
The US State Department filed the statement in the Eastern District Court of New York, in response to a wrongful death suit brought by the American relatives of the victims of 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
In response to media queries, the spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said, “It remains of vital importance for India that justice is done and that those who organised and perpetrated this horrible crime be brought to justice, irrespective of the jurisdiction under which they may reside or operate.”
“Our position has been made known to the US consistently,” the spokesperson maintained, implying New Delhi had expected the US to act differently. He asserted that Washington would have to explain a stance which appeared ‘at variance with its stated objective in the war on terror’.
“India is not a party to the civil suit filed in the Eastern District Court of New York. The details of what was conveyed to the court by a sovereign government are a matter for that government to explain,” the spokesperson added.
“From our perspective, this decision is a matter of deep and abiding concern. The leadership of the US has publicly stated its commitment to counter terrorism, to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and to bring those responsible for the Mumbai terror attacks to justice. In this context the decision of the US authorities in this case is a cause of serious disappointment.”