Even if they are apprehended, it is impossible for Pakistan to hand over a Pakistani to India. Howsoever guilty because that is their political compulsion. After the first bombing on the World Trade Centre (in February 1993), they (Pakistan) handed a Pakistani to the US. The US was an old friend, they did so, but will they hand over a Pakistani to India? They will never do it.

It is always better to go for a pragmatic recourse. Use the collaboration of the US to identify the culprits, arrest them through the FBI (the US Federal Bureau of Investigation) and provide them enough evidence that they can at least be tried in Pakistan. This could be a middle-level solution.

If we go on saying hand them all over, that would be expecting too much. It should be done with diplomacy.

Exclusive: 'The Pakistan connection is beyond doubt'

The police and the Union home ministry has said there were no more than ten terrorists. Do you think there could have been more given the way this operation was executed?

It looks like an Al Qaeda operation. Analyse their modus operandi -- Al Qaeda uses a lot of innovation, they are very modern in their approach, are highly trained, use the best equipment, modern arms, they are ready to lay down their lives and their fidayeen come in groups.

Al Qaeda is hiding along the border of Pakistan-Afghanistan in the North West Frontier Province where for the past 2,000 years there has been no control of any government. It is dominated and governed by fanatical warlords. So logically, circumstantially, operationally and by analysing the modus operandi, it is very clear this is an operation which is a joint venture between the fundamentalist elements who have a passion against India.

Lashkar-e-Tayiba would hate Indians, but Al Qaeda has priorities beyond India. For them, India is a low priority, their further priority is the West and Israel.

Al Qaeda is a corporate entity with different departments. The terrorists were the blue collared workers, the labourers -- while the supervisors, executives, GMs (general managers), and MD (managing director) are away (in Afghanistan and Pakistan). A lot of money is needed for this. I don't think Lashkar has that money.

The fundamental thing in which we are going wrong is that straightaway we are accusing the Pakistan government. Pakistan itself has become a victim of terrorism because it is the rule of nature that a benefactor is always hated. Any country that supports terrorism, ultimately, becomes a victim of that terror.

This is what happened with Pakistan and the Pakistan government has learnt a lesson. The Taliban is itself in war with Pakistan. The Taliban blames the Pakistan government for bringing down the Taliban government. So we can't say the enemy of Pakistan and the Pakistan government both have collaborated to attack India. It is done either by Al Qaeda or by the Lashkar in collaboration with Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda is directly or indirectly involved with the whole operation.

Image: Delhi policemen take cover outside Parliament, December 13, 2001. Seven years later, Pakistan-based terrorists attacked Mumbai, killing over 160 people. Photograph: Getty Images

Also hear: The Taj attack: The police tapes

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