26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack Anniversary: When LeT trained Ajmal Kasab on 'how to fish'

Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) gave "sea training" to 26/11 terror attack convict Ajmal Kasab in high seas of "Karachi", revealed a new book "Fragile Frontiers: Secret History of Mumbai Terror Attacks".

sea training, as per book was written by historian Saroj Kumar Rath, also included "how to fish", something that me Kasab think that "he h got a job and he could earn a respectable living".

"He (Kasab) was t informed by LeT why he was being prepared as a mariner and as a fishermen," quoted book from what Kasab told during his interrogation.

According to book, fearing a leak, sea route assault plan was kept secret by top LeT commanders -- Hafiz Saeed, Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, Abu Hamza and ors -- until vember 2008. 

It also said that before D-day, LeT tried to send attackers to Mumbai twice, but "failed on both occasions".

"In September 2008, boat carrying terrorists hit a rock in sea and attackers almost drowned before ir handlers rescued m. or failed attempt was on 7 vember 2008, when an alarmed captain of an Indian boat refused to surrender to LeT and fled," it ded.

book, in one of its essay titled 'Ajmal Kasab: LeT side of story', recorded that 2-year training of recruits for 26/11 attacks was a "joint responsibility of LeT and ISI".

"Each terrorist h to undergo a series of training and indoctrination sessions organized by LeT. All 10 terrorists recruited for Mumbai attacks h received four sts of training and after that, received sea training as well," re book.

As part of sea training, recruits were taught how to re maps, how to measure depth of sea, how to use GPS for sea route, how to use nets of fishermen and how to operate a ship.

"y were also trained on how to use a fisherman's net just to misle Indian navy personnel in case of an enquiry."

Also, or than sea training, four-st training received by ten terrorists under LeT command was: Daura-e-Sufa (20 Days' Preliminary Training), Daura-e-Ama (21 Days' Combat Course), Daura-e-Khaas (75 Days' vanced Combat Course), Daura-e-Ribat (30 Days' Training on Intelligence ncies).

"Kasab received (Daura-e-Khaas) training during May-July 2008. Skills like how to open and close Kalashnikovs, firing of a gun... and how to survive 60 hours without food and still climb a mountain with a heavy lo were taught. 

" Mumbai attacks continued for 62 hours and crossing LoC in Kashmir would take 60 hours as well," it said.

Besides delving into interrogation and confession report of Kasab, book, also tried to answer significant questions like "Why do young boys like Kasab become terrorists in Pakistan? What is root cause of terrorism? Or what motivates m to follow a violent lifestyle?".

Kasab, lone terrorist captured alive after 26/11 Mumbai attacks, was hanged at Yerawa jail in Pune on vember 21, 2012, after n-president Pranab Mukherjee rejected his mercy petition.  

Published by Routledge India, "Fragile Frontiers: Secret History of Mumbai Terror Attacks", priced at Rs 995, or than offering a lucid and graphic account of ill-fated day also traces changing dynamics of terror in South Asia.