Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani on Tuesday claimed that Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist caught in 2008 Mumbai attacks, was not a Pakistani national. Gillani was the prime minister when the attack took place.
When pointed out that the Pakistan media itself went to Kasab’s village proving he was Pakistani, Gillani replied with:
Speaking with CNN-News18 on the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan after the Uri attack, Gillani also said that evidence given by India after every terror attack is insufficient.
Interestingly, Gillani had visited David Coleman Headley’s home within weeks after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the Lashkar terrorist told a Mumbai court in March this year.
The Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operative-turned approver in the 26/11 case said this while he was being cross-examined by Abdul Wahab Khan, the lawyer of Abu Jundal who is an alleged key plotter of the 2008 Mumbai siege, via a video-link from the US.
In January 2009, less than two months after the Mumbai attack, Gillani had unceremoniously removed Major General (retd) Mahmud Ali Durrani as Pakistan’s National Security Advisor for publicly disclosing Ajmal Kasab’s nationality.
Durrani later mentioned that the decision to reveal Kasab’s identity to the media was his own, but that it was taken after consultations with all important officials, including then ISI chief Lt-Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha.
When asked what the situation is like 10 days post the Uri attack which cost India lives of 19 of its soldiers, the former prime minister said:
During the course of the interview, Gillani further added:
Gillani also said that India is using the Balochistan issue to divert attention away from the situation in Kashmir, while also accusing India of interference.
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