Dawood Ibrahim is NOT hiding here: Pakistan

In an interview with CNN-IBN, Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik claims that India's most wanted man, underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, is not hiding in Pakistan

On the failure of Pakistan's intelligence agencies to find Osama, who was hiding in Abbottabad

It's not like that. When you say intelligence failure, it's part of a collective failure. When 9/11 (terror strikes) happened to the US, the country which has got the best intelligence agencies in the world, did anybody ask for the resignation of President George W Bush? Intelligence gathering means hard work on the ground, depending on the resources you have.

We were dealing with a cunning terrorist like Osama who came here as a young boy. He knew where to hide, how to inflict damage and leave. How can we spare him when he has killed so many people in Pakistan? All major bomb blasts, starting from the one in Marriott (hotel blast in Islamabad in September 2008), has been orchestrated by his organisation.

On the involvement of 'insiders' in granting refuge to Osama

Categorically, I deny the involvement of any Pakistani official or anybody from the Pakistani establishment. We could not identify Laden's hideouts. But Pakistani intelligence gave the tip to American agencies about that particular telephonic conversation where Arabic language was used, though they did not take our intelligence agencies into confidence.

We knew he was a high-value target and everybody should be happy that he has been killed. But Pakistan as a nation would never like its sovereignty infringed upon. Without permission from the Pakistan government, no such action should be taken. That's why an investigation has been ordered to find out why we could not detect the incoming helicopter (of US Navy Seals). But I should not say much till the investigation gets over.

On Pakistan providing support to Osama

When President (Barack) Obama says support structure, he means support from the people. Two people have been killed. The investigation will probe how Osama and his supporters got the land and how they could build this hideout. He had everything inside his hideout, including rations and food. If he was being supported by the establishment, he would have received a free supply of all that.

On reports about Dawood Ibrahim hiding in Pakistan

In the Samjhauta Express blast case, allegations were made against Pakistan but investigations proved that they were wrong. Should I say that it was the failure of Indian intelligence agencies that this could not be detected earlier? What is important is what you want to achieve. Pakistan has got the resolve to act against terrorists.

I think marrying a lady in Pakistan does not give a certificate that Dawood Ibrahim is in Pakistan. But if you have any information (about Dawood hiding in Pakistan) we will be happy to look into it. If we get hold of him, naturally we will look into it. But as far as our information is concerned, he is not here.

On the ongoing trial of 26/11 accused in Pakistan

I spoke to (Home Minister P) Chidambaram when he was visiting Pakistan and also over the phone. I have explained to him the situation about the voice samples. I have made a point today that under the Evidence Act here and maybe in India, the mark of identification is thumb impression and no the voice sample. You can't take the voice sample (as evidence).

The lower court has rejected the plea and now we have moved the high court. This shows our interest in giving the voice sample.  But I don't want to use any extra judicial methods. I assure Mr Chidambaram and the people of India that we are at it (punishing 26/11 terror strike culprits), but we can't go beyond the law. We will use every possible legal means for that.

On the US naming (alleged ISI official) Major Iqbal in its 26/11 chargesheet

"I saw the charge-sheet. Just writing that name Iqbal (is not enough). There may be so many Iqbals in India and Pakistan, it is important to find how he played a role. We are going to process all the five names given to me by Mr Chidambaram. We have given a detailed questionnaire to Indian authorities and have requested them to respond to that. If we can arrest (Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative) Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi or others who helped plan the 26/11 strike, we won't hesitate to arrest anybody going by the names given to us. But we need detailed and proper information."