Pak says no need for world to make so much noise on Mumbai

Karachi, Jan 10 (PTI) After being badgered by the
US and India for not acting against those behind the Mumbai
attacks, Pakistan Saturday took an aggressive stand accusing
the world of "double standards" and said there was no need to
make "so much noise" over the strikes in Indian financial hub.

Raising the pitch, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani
asked why no one was speaking about the alleged "atrocities"
in Jammu and Kashmir and the killing of innocent people in the
Israeli attack in Gaza.

"We have to see that the world does not have double
standards," he told reporters on the sidelines of an official
function in this southern port city.

"As far as the Mumbai incident is concerned, see how
many innocent children and women have been killed in
Palestine. That is no less than the Mumbai attacks. So, why is
the world silent on that?"

Gilani's remarks come close on the heels of India
making it clear that "all option are open" if Pakistan fails
to take firm action against those behind the November 26
terror strikes.

With a hint of sarcasm, he said: "They say 10 people
held the whole of India hostage. We pray for their security
everyday because if any other incident happens (in India), it
will be blamed on us. We are now defending two countries, not
one. We are defending them and ourselves."

Joining the the war of words, former President Pervez
Musharraf said surgical strikes cannot be carried out against
Pakistan and in case of such an eventuality, the country is
prepared to respond with "full force".

"We have maintained a force level which is adequate
for deterrence. And we have the resolve to use the force if
there is any danger," he told reporters in Islamabad.

The Pakistan Prime Minister attributed the Mumbai
attacks to "an intelligence failure in India", saying this was
the neighbouring country's "internal matter". He said, "As far
as the world is concerned, it is presenting this one incident
in an exaggerated manner."

Blowing hot and cold, Gilani also said that Pakistan
is prepared to extend "complete cooperation" to India to probe
the Mumbai incident. "But we do not want that they should
demoralise or ridicule Pakistan through the media or
diplomacy," he said.

Top Pakistani officials held a meeting today to frame
a response to the information dossier provided by India on the
Mumbai attacks.

Officials of the interior and foreign ministries and
some security agencies met at the Foreign Office to review the
Indian dossier and to formulate a response, TV channels
reported.

The dossier – comprising the confession of Ajmal Amir
Kasab, the lone terrorist arrested by Indian authorities for
the Mumbai incident, transcripts of phone conversations
between the attackers and their Pakistan-based handlers and
other technical evidence – was handed over to Pakistan on
January 5.

Gilani Friday said Pakistan's Inter-Services
Intelligence agency has given to India its "feedback" on
information about the Mumbai attacks that was shared by the US
but New Delhi denied having received any response.

India has blamed Pakistan-based elements and official
agencies for planning and executing the Mumbai attacks that
killed over 180 people.

After weeks of denial, Pakistan acknowledged this week
that a preliminary investigation had established Kasab is a
Pakistani national.