Mumbai, March 7 (IANS) The 26/11 Mumbai terror attack trial will enter a critical phase Tuesday when the final arguments will commence.

Those arguments could take several days, after which the trial would reach the stage of the final judgment, almost 10 months since it started.

"The phase of arguments, meaning summing up the entire case or the assessment of the evidence, marks the step prior to the final judgement in a criminal trial," explained noted criminal lawyer J.P. Mishra.

"The prosecution will justify how the charges against the accused are proved and the defence lawyers will counter it," said Mishra.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam faces a tough challenge trying to nail the prime accused, Pakistani Mohammed Ajmal Amir alias Kasab, who has consistently denied all the charges against him.

Besides Kasab, two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) activists - Sabahuddin Ahmed and Fahim Ansari, both Indians - are also in the dock.

On Nov 26, 10 Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai from the sea and went on a killing spree over three days, slaughtering 166 Indians and foreigners.

The carnage ended when nine terrorists were gunned down while Kasab was captured alive.