Pakistan had exerted immense pressure on Saudi Arabia not to hand over Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist Abu Jundal to India at any cost as he was too prize a catch and an insider of the terror outfit who could expose the role of so-called 'state actors' in 26/11 attack.
Sayed Zabiuddin alias Abu Jundal, who was arrested on June 21 after his arrival from the Gulf country, knew too much about the Mumbai terror attack -- planning, selection of militants, their training, logistical arrangements and those who are associated with it from the beginning.
Sources said 30-year-old Jundal knew the Inter-Services Intelligence operatives who were part of the conspiracy, their role and how these 'state actors' helped the LeT carry out the country's worst ever terror strike.
"He can spill the beans. This is the main reason why the Pakistan agencies tried their best and exerted immense pressure on Saudis not to hand over Jundal to India," a source familiar with the development said.
But New Delhi managed to convince Riyadh by providing enough evidence, including DNA samples of Jundal's family members, that he was an Indian citizen carrying a Pakistani passport and wanted in many cases specially the 26/11.
Indian investigators believe that they would get enough information about ISI and other Pakistani agencies' role in 26/11 as well as LeT's deep-rooted links with these so called 'state actors'.
Meanwhile, New Delhi on Tuesday said the arrest of Jundal was an 'achievement of India as a country'.
"Which element of the government of India worked on this, which elements cooperated with which other elements is not a matter on which we need to openly discuss. But that said, we are all happy that this is an achievement for the country," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said at a press briefing.
He also described India-Saudi Arabia relations as 'excellent'.
Interestingly, the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi on Tuesday offered India counter-terrorism cooperation in the backdrop of Jundal's arrest, saying Islamabad has been at the forefront in the campaign against terror.
