Charges are step in right direction

The Pakistani decision to charge the seven accused of organising and taking part in the vicious terrorist attacks on Mumbai a year ago is significant progress. The long delay gave rise to the most lively suspicions that the Pakistani authorities did not want to move to action, but the move to court on charges based on the anti-terrorism law and criminal code will put those to rest. Many in India hoped for extradition, but that was never likely to happen. The best that we can hope for is that the alleged perpetrators of this appalling crime are brought to trial. If they are found guilty they should face the toughest sentences available to the courts. The scourge of terrorism needs to be fought by all nations, and those seeking to cause such savage and terrible damage should be dealt with.

On November 26, 10 coordinated attacks started on sites in Mumbai's financial and city centre. They lasted several days, and by the time they were repelled by the Indian special forces, at least 173 people had been killed and 300 others wounded. The Indian authorities caught one attacker, Mohammad Ajmal Amir, who admitted that the attackers were members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistan-based militant organisation. In February, Islamabad confirmed that parts of the attack had been planned in Pakistan and that six people, including the alleged mastermind, had been arrested in connection with the attacks.

The slow progress since then has frustrated the Indian authorities, and the Pakistani government may well feel embarrassed that the Lashkar was operating in its territory, but this should not stop its efforts to bring anyone who was involved in the Mumbai attacks to justice. The world needs to support this action by the Pakistani legal authorities.