ISLAMABAD, Nov 21:
In a cautious reaction to the hanging of Ajmal Kasab, Pakistan said today that it condemned terrorism “in all its forms” and was willing to cooperate with other countries to eliminate it.
“We condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestation,” Foreign Office Spokesman Moazzam Khan said, reacting to the execution of Kasab, the lone surviving Pakistani terrorist involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks carried out by the LeT.
“We are willing to cooperate and work closely with all countries of the region to eliminate the scourge of terrorism,” he said in a statement, adding that Islamabad had adopted the clear and consistent position of condemning terrorism in all its forms.
On India’s assertion that it had informed in advance Pakistan about the decision to hang Kasab but Islamabad refused to acknowledge the letter, Khan said, “these reports are incorrect and baseless.”
The Indian Deputy High Commissioner visited the Foreign Office last evening with the note regarding Kasab’s execution and the Director General for South Asia in the Foreign Ministry “received that note and acknowledged its receipt,” he said.
Kasab was the only survivor of a group of 10 terrorists trained and backed by the Pakistan-based LeT that targeted the Indian financial hub four years ago.
A total of 166 people, including several foreigners, were killed over a period of three days by the attackers, who were controlled by handlers based in Karachi.
Pakistani authorities have arrested LeT operational commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six others and charged them with planning, financing and executing the attacks. However, their trial by an anti-terrorism court has virtually stalled for over a year due to various technical reasons.
Islamabad has rejected Delhi’s calls for action against LeT founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, the mastermind of the attacks, claiming India has not provided any evidence to facilitate his prosecution. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel