Our Citizens Died Together: US Counterterrorism Official on 26/11

A day earlier, the State Department had offered upto $ 5 million for information on those behind for 26/11.

Nathan Sales. 

(Photo: Twitter)

Speaking at an event organised "in memory of the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks" at the Indian Embassy, a top American counterterrorism official called on Pakistan to bring LeT operatives and other terrorists to justice.

"We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to do their parts in bringing the perpetrators to justice. All countries must uphold their international obligations to take action against this UN sanctioned terrorist group and its leaders," said Nathan Sales, State Department's coordinator for counterterrorism in his brief remark.

Noting that a day earlier, the State Department had announced to offer up to $ 5 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction to anyone who committed or assisted the horrific attacks, Sales said:

It is an absolute affront to the victims of Mumbai and to their families who grieve them to this day, that after 10 years, those who planned these despicable acts have still not been convicted for their crimes, Sales said, echoing the statement of the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a day earlier.

Our citizens died together. So we must all work together to end the scourge of terrorism. We must prevent the terrorists who committed this act of barbarism, LeT from ever threatening our people again.

Nathan Sales 

To honour the memory of the victims, a moment of silence was observed by the attendees followed by lighting of candles. Extracts from an article written on this occasion by Kia Scherr, the co-founder of a charity 'One Life Alliance' and a family member of US victims in this tragedy, was also read out.

The event concluded with the screening of HBO documentary on 26/11 Mumbai attacks, titled 'Terror in Mumbai'.

The event, among others, was attended by Basant Sanghera and Jennifer Whethey, Director in the US National Security Council at the White House. Rabbi Levi Shemstov, Executive Vice President, American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad) recounted his personal encounter of the events of the day 10 years ago, when he desperately tried to save his friends and colleagues in Mumbai and talked with one of the terrorists over phone.