Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh (L), a prime suspect in the murder of Wall Street journalist Daniel Pearl, is pictured in a video on February 21, 1993 which was released by an arm-wrestling promoter on March 26, 2002. The British-born Sheikh, who is accused of masterminding the kidnapping of the murdered reporter, was a keen arm-wrester as a teenager and entered several competitions between 1991 and 1994. REUTERS
This phone call heightened the tension between the two countries and Pakistan moved its warplanes and troops close to the borders. There was a lot of sabre-rattling from across the border though India denied the phone calls saying that Pranab had not called anyone and that there is a protocol for calling the President of a nation. But for a day on Nov 28, Pakistan was in no mood to listen.
It now turns out that the call was made by Omar Sheikh from the Hyderabad jail in Pakistan.
For those who do not remember Omar Sheikh, he was the terrorist who was freed by India in 1999 at Kandahar in exchange for passengers of a hijacked Indian Airlines plane. He was later arrested for the murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl.
According to a report in Pakistan-based Dawn newspaper, Pakistani investigators have now identified the hoax caller as Omar Saeed. The investigators reportedly said that "Omar Saeed Sheikh was the hoax caller. It was he who threatened the civilian and military leaderships of Pakistan over telephone. And he did so from inside Hyderabad jail."
Dawn had reported a year ago that a hoax caller claiming to be then Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee was making threatening calls to President Zardari.
According to investigators, when Mumbai was being attacked, Saadia Omar, Omar Sheikh's wife, kept updating him on the event based on TV coverage through his mobile phone, which he was secretly using without the knowledge of the administration.
Soon after the carnage, there was heightened tension between India and Pakistan. Exploiting the situation, Omar Saeed used a UK-registered mobile SIM to dial Pranab Mukherjee. He told an operator handling Mukherjee's calls that he was the President of Pakistan. Indian officials started verification as part of security precautions and, after some time, the operator informed Omar that the Foreign Minister would get in touch with him soon.
Having failed to get Pranab, Omar then dialled President Asif Ali Zardari and another to the Chief of Army Staff. He also made an attempt to talk to the US Secretary of State, but security checks barred his way.
Once he got Zardari on line, Omar bragged of an adventurous military action, of course pretending to be Pranab. Without checking the security tracks, President Zardari swung into action and looped in Prime Minister Gilani and Interior Minister Rehman Malik.
"But Maj Gen Athar Abbas, the military spokesman, finds the report unbelievable. ‘I am not his (Army chief’s) operator. I don’t know who puts calls through to him, but I think this can’t be true,’ said an incredulous Athar Abbas."
If Indian Ext. Affairs Minister's office received a fake or suspicious call in the name of Pak President, would they just ignore it or inform the other side, Pakistani govt in this case? Even an email threat to the President is often taken seriously. Why? They can't leave anything to chance. Would any General of a country Pak or otherwise, just take a direct call from an unknown guy, believe what he says about his identity and show panic reaction? Would he at least not ask his secretary to call back for authentication? Even a bank manager calls back his counterpart at the other bank/ branch in case of doubt about a telephonic instruction. I will read how Pakistan's Dawn is exactly reporting this story.
It shows how raw leadership Pakistan has in sharp contrast to MATURE leadership in India and the system of verification based on protocol . Pakistan having been ruled under MILITARY leadership has not provided the sufficient wisdom to civilian leadership.
It also shows that terrorism patronised can prove WATERLOO to the PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN and troublesome to the rest of WORLD.
They blow hot and cold at the same time pretending to fight against terrorists groups and unworried about several training centers for terrorists in occupied Kashmir as what is being stated in news media of the possibility of them to cross to INDIA.
They must see the writings on the wall and take a vow to cleanse their hearts on today's festive day. May Allah give them honesty and sincerity in their motives and actions !