Safety of handlers of terrorists assured: Mukherjee

New Delhi, Dec 20 (PTI) Hinting at the Pakistani establishment's backing to terrorists who struck in Mumbai, India today said such strikes could be carried out with impunity only when the safety of the "handlers" of attackers has been assured. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the lone terrorist, who was caught alive during the terror attacks in Mumbai on November 26, has given to investigators a "chilling accounts of his handlers.
" "The impunity with which these attacks are carried out is possible only because of the safety the handlers have been assured," he said addressing a conference here. Mukherjee said the attack on Mumbai was "cold and calculated murder" and the death of innocent people there were "not accidental or unintended as is sometimes referred to as collateral damage.
" Seeking to nail Pakistan's denial that perpetrators of Mumbai attacks were elements of that country, Mukherjee said "the faces of terrorists have been seen across the globe." While talking about the Mumbai strikes, he also referred to a similar attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul in July.
In an obvious reference to the clout of Pakistan military vis-a-vis democracy in that country, he said genuine democracy does not come about simply by holding an election but rather through a process of democratisation that makes elected representatives accountable and also ensuring that there is no "de facto centre of power" that is actually "pulling the puppet strings."