Durrani says he was authorised by Pak PM to speak on Kasab

Islamabad, Jan 13 (PTI) Pakistan's former National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani, who was sacked after disclosing to media the Pakistani nationality of Mumbai attacker Ajmal Kasab, has said he had the written authorisation from the Prime Minister to speak on the evolving situation in the wake of the 26/11 strikes.

Durrani, a retired Major General who served as Pakistan's
envoy to the US and Military Secretary to former President Gen
Zia-ul-Haq, also claimed that President Asif Ali Zardari had
phoned him and "regretted his dismissal" by Premier Yousuf
Raza Gilani last week.

Gilani had said that Durrani -- who was selected by
Zardari for the post of NSA last year -- was fired for his
"irresponsible behaviour" and for speaking on Kasab's case
without taking government into confidence.

However, Durrani told Pakistani newspapers that he was
authorised by the Prime Minister in writing to speak on
matters of national security and Indo-Pak relations, and it
was his understanding that the Kasab issue was within this
domain.

Durrani said a reason for his dismissal might be Gilani's
feeling that he was being "left out" of the process for making
key decisions.

Media reports have suggested that Durrani's sacking was a
fallout of differences that have recently emerged between
Gilani and Zardari.

An official letter issued on the directive of the Prime
Minister last month said only the National Security Adviser,
Foreign Minister and Information Minister were authorised to
speak on the "evolving situation" in the wake of the Mumbai
attacks, according to Durrani.

Durrani said it was "decided at the highest level,
meaning the President, in consultation with the premier
security agencies that it was in Pakistan's supreme national
interest to admit Kasab's Pakistani nationality before others
started harping on it, leaving Islamabad with no choice but to
own up".

Security organisations had briefed Zardari about Kasab's
nationality before Durrani talked about it.

Durrani said all stakeholders were taken into confidence
before the statement on Kasab was made public and he "did not
breach the confidence or the trust of the leadership."

Durrani said he had no differences with the Prime
Minister before his sacking and dismissed as "nonsensical"
media reports that top US officials had lobbied for his
restoration.

"The Prime Minister had every right and authority to send
me home, but the way he did it was not nice although otherwise
he is a fine gentleman. I wish him success...The way I was
sacked, I was painted as if I have committed a grave crime,"
Durrani told 'The News' daily.

He also said "it was his strong commitment to have
peace with India". He had worked for this purpose in the past
and would continue to do so, Durrani said.

Durrani also said he was anguished that certain
elements had launched a character assassination campaign
against him and were describing him as an "American agent".

"My integrity has always been above board. Whatever I
did, I did for Pakistan and I will keep doing so in future as
well," he said.

He acknowledged that he had strong links with top US
officials but said such contacts were necessary for
protecting Pakistan's national interests.

Mukherjee said during his talks with Miliband, he had
stressed the "need for concerted international pressure to
take firm action" to end cross-border terrorism, of which
India has been a "victim".

He underlined that the Mumbai attacks as also a series of
terror strikes earlier had nothing to do with Indo-Pak issues
but were a part of global terrorism.

Miliband, while praising India's restrained approach
after the Mumbai attacks, emphasised that Pakistan should
ensure that those held in connection with the strikes are put
through trial and brought to justice.

He said he believes that Zardari government would do it
as it has promised to do so.

"I think it is very very important that those who are
arrested are brought to trial on the basis of the evidences
that have been accumulated," the British Foreign Minister
said.

"The fundamental way to beat the terrorist organisations
is to take them on politically. They need to be taken on
politically by the Pakistan's leaders in a frontal and clear
way," he said, adding that Islamabad's approach towards such
outfits will be crucial.

Lashing out at LeT, he said the "grievances" on which the
outfit is "trying to play on" can in "no way justify" its
acts.

"Political future of Pakistan depends on focussing not on
historical biases but on current challenges, domestic
challenges, political and social challenges," he said.

Hailing Pakistan's legal system, he said it "showed its
independence" in 2008 in the campaign against the previous
Musharraf government. He said the lawyers and justices of
Pakistan are capable of acting "without fear or favour".

Miliband noted that the Pakistan government has said they
want to prosecute those who have been arrested for the
terrible crime in Mumbai.

"I believe that President (Asif Ali) Zardari is sincere
when he says that he wants to tackle the scourge of terrorism
in Pakistan," he said.

Miliband, who travels to Islamabad on Thursday, said it
is vital that the whole Pakistan state machinery support
Zardari in tackling terrorism.

"Terrorism is not someone else's war in Pakistan. It is
their own," he said.

Mukherjee said Pakistan, as a member of the international
community, is obliged to implement all international
conventions and resolutions adopted by the UNSC to tackle
terrorism.

As a member of SAARC, Islamabad is also expected to
implement the SAARC Anti-terror Convention and protocol of
2004, he said. PTI SKU
SAK
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