The 10 Pakistani terrorists, who attacked Mumbai [ Images ], could have been guided by an Indian handler whose true identity was yet to be ascertained, Home Minister P Chidambaram [ Images ] has said.

"When we say he could be an India [ Images ]n, he could be somebody who acquired Indian characteristics. He could have been infiltrated into India and lived here long enough to acquire an Indian accent, familiarity with Indian Hindi words or he could be somebody who exfiltrated from India to Pakistan and was adopted by the militants there," Chidambaram said on Thursday.

While refusing to speculate on the name of the handler, the home minister said investigators had known for long time that there was a handler in 26/11 attack who could be an Indian.

"We know him by Abu Jindal that something we have known for many many months now... but he is not Abu Jindal," he said.