INDIA
According to sources, Ansari was first located by the CIA that had received inputs from its sister agency, the NSA.
A little over a year ago, Saudi Arabian intelligence agents, working closely with the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), picked up a man with a Pakistani passport.
The man, they would soon discover, was Syed Zabiuddin Ansari, also known as Abu Jindal, whose voice was heard over the airwaves, exhorting 10 terrorists on the night of November 26, 2008, to kill more civilians.
Sources in the Indian intelligence community told DNA that Ansari was first located by the CIA that had received inputs from its sister agency, the NSA. Following these leads, the CIA managed to track down a few men with fake Pakistani passports living in Saudi Arabia since 2008, soon after the 26/11 terror attack.
Ansari — originally from the Georai area of Beed district in Maharashtra — had fled to Bangladesh in 2006 after a Mumbai police team seized a huge cache of arms, ammunitions and explosives from Aurangabad and started looking for him. ISI officials in the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka helped him to reach Karachi without a passport.
New Delhi came to know of his involvement in 26/11 when the CIA told liaison officers of India’s external intelligence agency, the R&AW (Research and Analysis Wing), that one of the men picked up could have had a role in the 26/11 attack. Ansari revealed before Saudi and American intelligence officials during interrogation that he was one of the handlers.
Once his role was confirmed, India swung into action and contacted the Al Mukhbarat Al A’amah — the Saudi intelligence organisation that had been working closely with the CIA — to identify al Qaeda elements in the desert kingdom.
India was unsuccessful initially and the Saudis, according to a senior intelligence official, continued to give “lip service” to Indian requests. The CIA, which has usually played a proactive role, however, maintained a neutral stance.
Then the relation between Washington and Islamabad soured over the death of Pakistani soldiers in an American special forces’ attack. America became more agitated as Pakistan stopped its supply convoys headed for Afghanistan. This resulted in the CIA becoming more helpful towards its Indian counterparts as they sought custody of Ansari.
Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi intelligence chief, visited India on a few occasions, the last being two months ago when he met SK Tripathi, R&AW chief, and Shiv Shankar Menon, national security adviser. Both of them pressed for Ansari’s custody. Aziz remained noncommittal but promised to look into the matter.
On his return to Saudi Arabia, Prince Muqrin held several meetings with CIA officials, who convinced him to cooperate with India. The fact the Americans were keen to build pressure on Islamabad played a major role, according to senior Indian intelligence officials.
The Saudis asked India to substantiate its claim by providing a DNA sample of any member of Ansari’s family. Intelligence officers went to his hometown in Beed district, collected a sample from his sister, and sent it to Saudi Arabia. The samples matched and the Saudi authorities were convinced.
On June 21, a team of counter-terrorism officers from the R&AW left for Saudi Arabia to bring back Ansari. He was arrested on arrival.
Ansari’s arrest added another critical chapter to the 26/11 case, which has been bolstered by the arrests of Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab in India and David Coleman Headley in the US.
Swati Maliwal pours bottle of polluted water outside Delhi CM Atishi’s residence; WATCH
IPL 2025: R Ashwin tops CSK's wishlist as franchise plans to utilize RTM for THIS New Zealand star
'Dusre ki biwi ko cheen ke...': Arya Babbar roasts Arjun Kapoor for Singham Again villain role
'Abki baar...': AI imagines Donald Trump, Kamala Harris as Indian politicians, netizens react, WATCH
Amid bomb threats, ammunition cartridges found in Dubai-Delhi Air India flight
This Indian king, was first man to make history by marrying foreign woman during his trip to...
Mukesh Ambani's Jio once again TOPPED in global telecom industry, sets record in...
Bhai Dooj 2024: Date, shubh muhurat, significance, rituals and more
New ‘Satoshi Nakamoto’ emerges: Meet man who declares himself to be Bitcoin founder but fails to...
Watch: Former CSK star gets hit for 6 sixes in an over against England during Hong Kong Sixes
'Makes no sense': Ex-India star slams Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir for absurd Sarfaraz Khan decision
World's richest man Elon Musk faces lawsuit from Ex-Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal for...
Security forces kill 2 terrorists, including a foreign national in Jammu and Kashmir
WWE Crown Jewel 2024: Full match card, timing, live streaming details - All you need to know
'Absurd and baseless': India dismisses Canadian minister's allegations against Amit Shah
IND vs NZ: Virat Kohli scripts history in Mumbai Test, becomes first player in world to...
This 51-year-old woman leaves husband to marry 30-year-old Indian security guard
Mukesh Ambani's best plan for Jio users, 200GB data, 90 days of unlimited calls at just Rs...
'Thanks for...': Abhishek Bachchan's viral statement amid divorce rumours with Aishwarya Rai
Jammu and Kashmir: 2 terrorists killed in encounter with security forces in Anantnag
21-Day Mars, Moon simulation in Ladakh
Prashant Kishor's fee for advising in one election will leave you shocked, it is Rs...
Dua Padukone Singh: Here's how Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh named their baby girl
Another BIG move by Mukesh Ambani, set to provide some help for debt-ridden Ghana as Reliance Jio...
J-K: Gun battle breaks out between security forces and terrorists in Srinagar's Khanyar
Noel Tata takes BIG decision at TCS after Ratan Tata's death, plans to hire...
'Will chop them up...': Mithun Chakraborty hits out at TMC’s Humayun Kabir at Kolkata rally
Delhi Air Pollution: Delhi-NCR AQI turns ‘very poor’ as city wakes up to toxic smog post-Diwali
Gautam Adani's next BIG step: Adani Power stops Bangladesh’s power supply due to...
Indian troops start patrolling Demchok sector in eastern Ladakh following India-China disengagement
Amy Jackson announces first pregnancy with husband Ed Westwick, flaunts baby bump in adorable pics
In THIS Indian village, families live with cobras, the reason is...
Hardik Pandya flaunts his special 'World Champion' ring after being retained by MI, video goes viral
Happy Govardhan Puja 2024: Top 50 WhatsApp wishes, messages, quotes for loved ones
Despite massive Diwali opening, is Singham Again paying the price for banking on huge star cast?
Shah Rukh Khan's heartfelt gesture towards jewellery store staff wins internet, watch
DNA TV Show: Public calls out celebrities’ hypocrisy on Diwali pollution
Fashion designer Rohit Bal dies at 63: Last year, he was on ventilator for heart ailments
BCCI scraps India's intra squad warm-up game ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy, reason revealed
Legendary fashion designer Rohit Bal dies at 63 after prolonged illness
Another terrorist attack in J-K, militants shoot two non-locals in Budgam
Meet Anish Sarkar, world's youngest FIDE-rated chess player at 3 years
Bigg Boss 18: These two wild cards to enter Salman Khan's show, get into heated argument on stage
Fact check: Did Abhishek Bahchan tie knot with Nimrat Kaur amid divorce rumours with Aishwarya Rai?
Govardhan Puja 2024: History, significance, Puja timings; why it is celebrated after Diwali?
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Birthday: Kajol pens heartfelt wishes for actress, calls her…
Dhirubhai Ambani played matchmaker for Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani, he did...
Amid Diwali festivities, UPI sets new record in October with transactions over…
PM Modi's BIG attack on Congress: 'Making unreal promises is easy but...'
Singham Again box office collection day 1: Ajay Devgn film beats Kartik Aaryan-starrer, earns Rs...