Zarrar Shah

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Zarrar Shah is one of Lashkar-e-Taiba's primary liaisons to the ISI and its communications chief. [1]

According to The New York Times , Shah is "a senior Lashkar commander" and "a central character" behind the plot of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. [2] Fox News reported that Shah communicated with gunmen over the telephone and helped direct their activities as he watched the events unfold on television. [1]

On 10 December 2008, Pakistan announced the arrest of Shah for his role in the Mumbai attacks. [3] On 31 December 2008, it was announced that Shah had confessed LeT's involvement as well as his own central role in the attack. According to Pakistani officials, Shah's interrogation confirmed most of the details that had been obtained from the only captured gunman. [4]

On 12 February 2009, Rehman Malik, adviser to the prime minister on the interior, stated that Shah was still in custody and that he allegedly wrote the emails claiming responsibility for the attacks. [5] [6] [7]

Investigations of Shah's computer and email accounts revealed a list of 320 locations worldwide deemed as possible targets for terrorist attacks similar to the November 2008 strikes in Mumbai. Only 20 of the targets were locations within India. Analysts believed that the list was a statement of intent rather than a list of locations where LeT cells had been established and were ready to attack. [8]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Third Mumbai Terrorist Suspect Placed Under House Arrest; Charity a Front Group For Terrorist Organization". Fox News. 10 December 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
  2. ↑ Schmitt, Eric; Mark Mazzetti; Jane Perlez (7 December 2008). "Pakistan's Spies Aided Group Tied to Mumbai Siege". New York Times. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
  3. ↑ Khan, Zarar (10 December 2008). "Pakistan detains 2nd alleged Mumbai plotter". AP. Archived from the original on 14 December 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  4. ↑ Hussain, Zahid; Matthew Rosenberg; Peter Wonacott (31 December 2008). "Pakistan's Probe Finds Local Links To Attacks On Mumbai". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
  5. ↑ Masood, Salman (12 February 2009). "Pakistan Announces Arrests for Mumbai Attacks". New York Times. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  6. ↑ Haider, Kamran (12 February 2009). "Pakistan says it arrests Mumbai attack plotters". Reuters. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  7. ↑ "Pakistan admits India attack link". BBC News. 12 February 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
  8. ↑ Ramesh, Randeep (19 February 2009). "Mumbai attackers had hit list of 320 world targets". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 February 2009.


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