Pak distances itself from Kasab, but calls for action against 26/11 perpetrators

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Thursday distanced itself from Ajmal Amir Kasab, the sole surviving gunman involved in the terror attack in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, but said perpetrators of the three-day siege should be brought to justice.

“Pakistan has strongly condemned the horrific Mumbai attack. It is important that culprits are brought to justice,” said Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit.

Basit’s comments came shortly after Mumbai Special Court Judge M.L. Tahiliyani sentenced Kasab to death on 86 counts, including four counts of murder, waging war against India and conspiracy and terrorism offences.

“We would appreciate that our legal experts need to go through the detailed judgment,” Basit added, when asked about the death sentence.

Asked whether Pakistan would provide legal assistance to Kasab, or a Pakistani-American charged with terrorism in the United States over a failed New York bomb attack, however, the Dawn quoted Basit, as saying: “It is incumbent upon the government of Pakistan to provide whatever assistance possible to all its nationals abroad. Having said that, we need to draw a distinction as to where the assistance is required and where it is not.” (ANI)