New Delhi, March 29: After failing to make headway in Pakistan on its probe in the Mumbai terror strikes, the FBI team is working overtime with Indian investigators and legal officials to expedite the trial in a bid to put pressure on Islamabad to take action against genuine culprits.
A US team, which arrived here on March 24, has been holding consultations with investigators and legal officials, who were specially flown from Mumbai to finalise the details of deposition of FBI officials who carried out the probe in the 26/11 attack, official sources said today.
The US team asked prosecutors for the Mumbai police to work out dates for deposition of FBI sleuths including those who had deciphered the technical elements in the case and satellite phone links establishing clear links with Pakistan.
During the discussions, the FBI team informed the Indian investigators that its team in Pakistan had so far not been able to make any headway as the Islamabad regime was not able to provide full support in probing the case.
The arrest of Mazhar Iqbal made by Pakistan in connection with 26/11 had not yielded any results as the FBI and Indian investigators found him as the weakest link in the case, the sources said.
The FBI informed the Indian authorities for expeditious trial so that pressure could be exerted on Pakistan globally, the sources said.
The FBI team comprising law officials will also finalise its own chargesheet besides working on logistics for its officials to appear before a special court holding the Mumbai attack trial.
The FBI team held discussions with investigators who had probed the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes and intercepted telephonic conversation between Lashker-e-Taiba militants and their handlers in Pakistan.
The visit was aimed at helping the FBI finalise its own chargesheet in the case, which it will submit before the US courts. As per US laws, the FBI has to probe the death or torture of any American citizen outside the US and submit a chargesheet. Six US nationals and a British national lost their lives in the Mumbai attacks.
The US agency taken a certified copy of chargesheet filed by Mumbai Police in connection with the case and statements of the witnesses.
India and the US share a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) which came into effect on December three, 2005.
Mumbai Police had earlier obtained "crucial evidence" from FBI that points that the plot to execute the 26/11 terror attack was hatched in Pakistan.
Bureau Report
