NEW DELHI, March 13: India took on Friday another important step to facilitate Pakistan’s investigations into the Mumbai terror attacks and handed over its response to 30 questions asked by Islamabad a month ago.

“The government of India has today formally responded to the request from Pakistan for further details relating to the Mumbai terror attacks,” the Indian foreign ministry said. “Detailed responses and material have been provided by the Foreign Secretary to the Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi earlier this evening to all thirty questions raised by Pakistan on February 12, 2009.”

It was India’s hope “and expectation that this step will lead to bringing the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice and to credible action by government of Pakistan against the infrastructure of terrorism in that country,” the foreign ministry said.

“We have put together the answers to the 30 questions submitted by Pakistan. It’s a very comprehensive document, it answers every question,” Indian Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram told journalists.

“We expect Pakistan to take the investigation forward quickly, apprehend all the culprits and hand them over to India for prosecution and punishment or prosecute and punish them in Pakistan,” he said.

“Anyone who’s serious about investigating the origins of the Mumbai attacks will find there’s enough material to take the investigation forward,” he said.

Indian reports said Pakistan’s requests related to ‘technical and forensic evidence’ from the gunmen, such as DNA samples.

Pakistan had also reportedly asked for mobile phone transcripts and voice recordings of the gunmen’s associates to establish “connectivity and communication of the terrorists with militants based abroad”.

The Press Trust of India said the 40-page dossier, containing question-by-question replies and annexures, was handed over by Mr Menon to Mr Malik here.

It said the second dossier given to Pakistan in two months included telephone conversations of the 10 attackers and their Pakistan-based handlers intercepted during the 60-hour carnage, fingerprints, DNA profiles and other details of the terrorists who struck in Mumbai.

The dossier also included forensic analysis of GPS, ammunition and other equipment used by the terrorists.
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