The Final Lesson for the terrorists

Ajmal Kasab, the terrorist captured alive during the terror attacks in Mumbai, has revealed details of the 'final lesson' or shahdat given to him and his nine associates.

The motivational speech was delivered by Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi before he escorted them to Karachi port from where the ten thugs sailed for their deadly mission.

During his speech, Lakhvi told the terrorists that Muslims are being persecuted across the world and assured them that their actions would make their brethren proud of them.

Abu Hamza, the prime accused in the attack on the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, on December 28, 2005, was among those who trained Kasab and his associates in maritime skills. Hamza, who had been trained by the Pakistan navy, was part of the group that conducted training sessions for the terrorists at Azizabad, near Karachi.

He also taught them how to use explosives and advanced weapons.

Kasab and his associates were repeatedly shown videos, photographs and maps of their targets in Mumbai.

Zarar Shah, the Lashkar's communications chief, trained them to use satellite phones to communicate with their minders and identifying targets through Google Earth.

Kasab has claimed he thought that he and his fellow terrorists were training for a mission in Kashmir. But Intelligence Bureau agents dismiss this statement, terming it as a ploy to gain sympathy in Pakistan.

His revelations are included in the dossier Home Minister P Chidambaram will hand over to United States officials during his visit to Washington, DC, this week.