Keep up the pressure: On the conviction of a Mumbai attacks handler in Pakistan
India must seek the extradition of Sajid Mir for his role in the Mumbai attacksReports in Pakistan’s newspapers, that a Pakistani court has convicted Sajid Majeed Mir, one of the men who planned the Mumbai 26/11 attacks, on terror financing charges, are welcome proof that the search for each of the masterminds must never be given-up on. In the case of Mir, Pakistan’s security agencies had gone so far as to falsely declare him “dead”. He was reportedly sentenced to more than 15 years in jail and is serving his term in a Lahore jail. Mir, the LeT’s former deputy chief of “international operations”, has been wanted for his role in recruitment for the 26/11 attacks, being the handler for David Headley, who carried out the reconnaissance for the LeT during several visits to India, and for being in the Karachi “control room” during the Mumbai siege. Headley named Mir in his deposition to a U.S. court, after he was Given a “ plea bargain ” by the U.S. government, as well as in depositions via video link for the 26/11 trial in India. Mir is also wanted for LeT conspiracies to attack a Danish newspaper accused of publishing blasphemous cartoons and bomb a nuclear installation in Australia. He was also convicted by a French court for recruiting LeT operatives, and is believed to have also recruited terror- volunteers in the “Virginia Paintball Jihad” case in the U.S. The timing of Mir’s conviction appears to be linked to the final stages of Pakistan’s grey listing at the FATF this June, that voted to allow on-site visits in Pakistan with a view to de-listing it in the next few months. While Mir is not actually on the UN Security Council’s 1267 list of terror-designated individuals that the FATF is mandated to pursue, the West has frequently brought his name up at FATF proceedings in demanding that Pakistan successfully convict leaders of terrorist groups. If Mir is in fact behind bars, New Delhi must move quickly to demand his extradition to stand for trial in India. Admittedly, this is a virtually impossible task, given the poor state of bilateral ties. New Delhi must also rectify the error in not pursuing Mir’s addition to the UNSC list thus far, and launch a concerted international effort for Mir to be prosecuted for the number of terror attacks he has been involved in — not just for terror financing. As-with Hafiz Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi and other LeT members, it is necessary to keep the spotlight on Mir, given the predilection of Pakistan’s legal authorities for reversing convictions and reducing the sentencing of terrorists once the heat from international agencies reduces. This will be particularly important, especially as Pakistan is expected to receive a full reprieve at the FATF in October, and it must be made clear that the Government will continue to pursue the legal process against each of the men behind the Mumbai attacks, until they are brought to justice.
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Extradition (noun) – deportation, handover, repatriation, refoulement, expulsion अपराधी का प्रत्यर्पण
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Convict (verb) – declare guilty, find guilty, pronounce guilty दोषी ठहराना
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Charge (noun) – accusation, allegation, indictment आरोप
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Mastermind (noun) – planner, organizer
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Give up on (phrasal verb) – Stop having faith or belief in someone or something.
छोड़ देना
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So far as (phrase) – To the extent that. यहां तक कि
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Sentence (verb) – pronounce sentence on, mete out punishment to, punish, convict
मुजरिम ठहराना
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Serve (verb) – spend, go through बिताना
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Term (noun) – period of time, time, length of time, spell अवधि, काल
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Reconnaissance (noun) – preliminary survey, survey, exploration, observation, investigation पूर्व-परीक्षण
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Siege (noun) – blockade, beleaguerment, encirclement
घेराबंदी
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Deposition (noun) – statement, sworn statement, affidavit, attestation बयान
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Plea bargain (noun) – An arrangement between prosecutor and defendant whereby the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a more lenient sentence or an agreement to drop other charges.
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Trial (noun) – court case, case, lawsuit, suit, hearing मुकदमा
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Conspiracy (noun) – plot, scheme, stratagem, plan, machination साजिश
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Operative (noun) – agent, secret agent, undercover agent, spy गुर्गों
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Volunteer (noun) – A person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task. स्वयंसेवी
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Grey listing (noun) – FATF has placed a country under increased monitoring to check its progress on measures against money laundering and terrorism financing
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FATF (noun) – The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog
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With a view to (phrase) – with the hope, aim, or intention of.
के विचार से
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On-site (adjective) – Taking place or situated at a particular place or site.
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Mandate (verb) – Require (something) to be done; make mandatory.
अनिवार्य
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Bring up (phrasal verb) – suggest, propose, advance, moot, put forward, bring forward उठाना
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Proceeding (noun) – course of action, action, step, measure, move कार्यवाही
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Behind bar (phrase) – In prison.
सलाखों के पीछे
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Stand trial (phrase) – To be brought before a judge for a crime or misdeed
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Admittedly (adverb) – definitely, undoubtedly, without a doubt निश्चय ही; निस्सन्देह
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Virtually (adverb) – in effect, effectively, all but, more or less, practically वास्तव में
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Given (preposition) – considering, taking into consideration, taking into account
देखते हुए
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State (noun) – Condition, situation स्थिति
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Ties (noun) – connection, link, liaison, attachment, association संबंध
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Concerted (adjective) – strenuous, vigorous; collective, combined, ठोस
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Prosecute (verb) – take to court, bring legal proceedings against, पर मुकदमा चलाना
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As with (phrase) – the same thing applies to के साथ भी
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Keep the spotlight on (phrase) – To focus on or bring attention to someone or something.
पर ध्यान देना
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Predilection (noun) – liking, fondness, preference, partiality झुकाव
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Authorities (noun) – officials, officialdom, the people in charge प्राधिकारी
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Reverse (verb) – withdraw, repeal, cancel, rescind, annul, nullify उलटना
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Reprieve (noun) – cancellation of punishment, postponement of punishment, remission, दण्डविराम
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Make clear (phrase) – explain, elucidate, spell out, clarify स्पष्ट करना
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Reportedly (adverb) – supposedly, seemingly, apparently, allegedly
कथित तौर पर
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Seek (verb) – Ask for (something) from someone.
मांगना
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Pursue (verb) – engage in, be occupied in, participate in
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Conviction (noun) – declaration of guilt, pronouncement of guilt, sentence
दोषसिद्धि
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Blasphemous (adjective) – sacrilegious, profane, irreligious, irreverent, impious
तिरस्कारी, निंदात्मक
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Designate (verb) – classify, class, pronounce, label, tag
नामोद्दिष्ट करना
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Thus far (phrase) – so far, until now, until then, up until now
अब तक
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Carry out (phrasal verb) – conduct, perform, implement,
कार्यान्वित करना
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The West (noun) – it refers to U.S and other European Countries.
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Keep up (phrasal verb) – continue, persist with, persevere with, maintain
बनाए रखना
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Handler (noun) – undercover agent, enemy agent
संचालक
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Bring to justice (phrase) – Arrest someone for a crime and ensure that they are tried/suited in court.