Pakistan taps Interpol to track 26/11 bombers

Pakistan 26/11 suspects appear before court

26/11 trial in Pakistan adjourned

Pakistan has asked Interpol to issue a global alert for 13 suspects wanted for the attacks in Mumbai of November 2008, the international police agency said on Thursday.

The alert asks member countries to help locate the fugitives and notify Pakistani authorities who will then issue arrest warrants and seek their extradition, an Interpol statement said.

"The authorities in Pakistan are to be commended for making full use of Interpol's global network and tools," said secretary general Ron Noble in the statement issued from the agency's headquarters in Lyon.

"This demonstrates their commitment to allowing all of Interpol's 187 member-countries to benefit from and help with the investigation into the Mumbai terrorist attacks," he said.

The 13 suspects were not named in the media statement, but Interpol said their names and other information would be included in the police agency's databases and circulated worldwide.

A total of 166 people died and more than 300 were injured in the Nov. 26-29 attacks, which saw 10 heavily-armed gunmen target luxury hotels, the Indian city's main railway station, a popular restaurant and a Jewish centre.

India has blamed the attacks on the banned Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Pakistan has arrested five people suspected of involvement in the assault, including the alleged mastermind, Zakiduddin Lakhvi. Their trial is expected to begin in the next week.

"Pakistan's actions in this case will help set new international standards for terrorism investigations," said Noble.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani pledged earlier this month to do everything in his power to bring those behind the attack to justice following a meeting with his Indian counterpart in Egypt.