ISLAMABAD: National Security Advisor Dr Moeed Yusuf has said that the initial investigation into the recent terrorist blast in Lahore has provided concrete evidence of Indian involvement in terrorist activities in Pakistan.
He was addressing a joint news conference with Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain and Inspector General of Police Punjab, Inam Ghani in Islamabad today (Sunday).
Dr Moeed Yousf said the mastermind and handlers of the blast have been identified through forensic analysis of the electronic equipment recovered from the terrorists involved in the incident.
He said we have absolutely no doubt that the main mastermind of the blast is an Indian national, who belongs to the Indian intelligence agency RAW.
Appreciating Pakistani agencies effective role in apprehending the culprits involved in the Lahore blast, Dr Moeed Yusuf said right after the incident, thousands of attempts of cyber-attacks against Pakistan’s critical investigation structure were made to deflect the attention of our police and security agencies to avoid apprehension.
He said our cybersecurity is strong enough that we were able to thwart these attempts.
The Advisor said Prime Minister Imran Khan has instructed his team to use all possible legal and political means to get to the people outside Pakistan, who are part of this international terrorist network.
He said we will share all information with the international community and expose the nefarious designs and real face of the state in our neighbourhood that is constantly sponsoring terrorism against our innocent civilians.
Dr Moeed Yusuf urged the international community to stop turning a blind eye towards India’s illegal actions and play its legally binding role for the safety of innocent Pakistanis if it really believes in peace and stability in this region.
Speaking on the occasion, IG Police Inam Ghani said Punjab Police, Counter-Terrorism Department and other law enforcement agencies successfully investigated the case and unearthed the plan.
He said Peter Paul David was the linchpin of the Lahore blast who is a Pakistani citizen and resides in Karachi. The IG said Peter Paul David arranged the car to be used for the blast.
Inam Ghani said Eid Gul, an Afghan refugee, installed a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in the car and drove it from Islamabad to Lahore.
He said the people involved in the incident tried to escape but due to prompt action of law enforcement agencies, they did not get enough time.
Conversation between the terrorists on the telephone was also released in the news conference.
