Ajmal Kasab is Pakistani: FO
* Pakistan rules out consular access to Mumbai gunmen for heinous crime
* Spokesman denies statement issued under pressure
By Zulfiqar Ghuman
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistani government confirmed on Wednesday that Ajmal Kasab the lone surviving gunman captured during the Mumbai terrorist attacks on November 26 is a Pakistani.
The initial investigations have confirmed that Ajmal Kasab, involved in the Mumbai terrorist attacks, is a Pakistani national. Further investigations are under way, Foreign Office Spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said.
Tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad had risen after India accused Pakistan-based elements of planning the attack and world leaders had to intervene to prevent a possible war between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Pakistan had rejected the allegations and asked India for evidence of the possible involvement of non-state actors on its soil. Islamabad also began its own investigations into the matter and formed a joint investigations team that included officials from intelligence agencies including the ISI that will work under the Interior Ministry.
Sources in the ministry told Daily Times the team analysed the information India had gathered and shared with Pakistan, and concluded in a preliminary probe that Kasab is Pakistani.
Pakistan had earlier said its National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) had no record of the man.
Sadiq confirmed that the Interior Ministry had given the information to the Foreign Office.
Consular access: But he denied Pakistan would provide official support to the gunman. Kasab has committed a heinous crime. He will not be provided any official support or consular access, the spokesman said.
Foreign influence: He dispelled the impression that the statement about Kasabs nationality had been made under foreign pressure. All decisions are taken independently in the best interest of the country, he said.
Ajmal Kasab is a Pakistani. Further investigations are under way, Information Minister Sherry Rehman said in a brief conversation with Daily Times.
But only one hour before making the statement, the Foreign Office had issued a press release saying it was premature to be certain about Kasabs nationality. Stumper/AM reading?
Determination of the nationality of Ajmal Kasab at this point of time is premature and investigation is under way, it said. India has alleged Kasab belongs to Faridkot, a small town near Okara, and that the nine gunmen killed during the attacks were also from Pakistan.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan