NEW DELHI, Jan 7: India said on Wednesday it would keep all options open to dismantle “terror outfits” after the Mumbai attacks, raising the rhetoric against Pakistan.

“I say we are keeping all options open,” Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee told Times Now television.

Only hours earlier, Defence Minister A.K. Antony had made similar comments. He said that despite repeated demands by India, there was no serious attempt to dismantle terror outfits working across the border.

“This is our major worry… So we will do everything to prevent this. For this, we are examining all possible available options,” he told reporters.

According to transcripts of intercepted telephone calls between attackers in Mumbai and their “Pakistani handlers”, which were part of the evidence handed over to Pakistani authorities a few days ago, militants were urged to kill their hostages in cold blood and fight to the death in the name of Islam.

In one exchange, one of the two attackers who stormed the luxury Oberoi-Trident hotel was told to “inflict the maximum damage” and to “kill all hostages, except the two Muslims” they were holding.

“We have three foreigners, including women,” the attacker identified as Fahadullah said.

“Kill them. Keep your phone switched on so that we can hear the gunfire,” he was told.The transcript then said the two attackers were heard to tell the two Muslims to step aside and order the hostages to stand in a line. Gunfire was heard, then cheering.

Details of the attackers’ conversations are contained in a dossier of evidence that India says “unmistakenly” points to elements in Pakistan.—Agencies

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