The rich evidence that the US is now making the basis for moving forward on the investigative front, sources said, is a result of very close Indo-US cooperation that saw FBI getting access at every level to evidence collected from the Mumbai terror sites including the satellite phone used by the terrorists.

It's learnt that FBI using its sophisticated equipment was able to decipher a lot of information from the phone that has given vital leads to take forward the investigation in Pakistan. Given that the phone had been operational several days before the terrorists left for India, the investigations in Pakistan could lead to more conclusive results.

It may be recalled that the terrorists used the phone on November 18-19 to contact Abu Saad, a local commander in Muzaffarabad who reports directly to Yusuf Muzamil, the head of LeT operations in India and a Lakhvi confidante. He is also said to be Lakhvi's right hand man, said sources. This intercept was picked up by intelligence agencies, which confirmed the boat to be a LeT vessel.

That the investigators have stitched up the entire sequence and have, at least, been able to identify the immediate handlers in Pakistan was further confirmed by reports in the Dawn newspaper which reported US passing on a taped conversation between Lakhvi and the terrorists.

Zarar Shah is also identified in several conversations that terrorists had with their Pakistani handlers while being holed up in the Taj Mahal Hotel, Oberoi and Nariman House. On some occasions, the terrorists even sought specific direction before killing foreigners from different nationalities. In some cases, the message from the other side conveyed elation and "sadistic" demands to keep the phone on while shooting. Some of the details available with investigators, sources said, are chilling and horrific.

... contd.