ID :
79272
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 12:23
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/79272
The shortlink copeid
Saeed has no role in 26/11, don`t push us: Ex-Pak NSA to India
Ajay Kaul
New Delhi, Sep 9 (PTI) Mahmood Ali Durrani, who was
sacked as Pakistan's National Security Advisor when he
acknowledged Ajmal Kasab's Pakistani nationality, has insisted
that Jamaat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed had no role in the 26/11
terror strike and asked New Delhi not to "push" Islamabad.
Maj Gen (retd) Durrani said India and Pakistan should
set up a joint investigative team into Mumbai attack, rather
than New Delhi sending "pieces of paper" (containing
information on the attack).
He took objection to the statements by India that
Pakistan is not doing enough on Mumbai attacks, particularly
on Hafiz Saeed, saying New Delhi should be "understanding"
instead of "pushing us" on it.
In an interview to PTI here, he insisted that Pakistan
was doing all it can to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators
of Mumbai attack but it was not being acknowledged by India.
When referred to Hafiz Saeed who continues to be a free
man despite India's assertion that "enough proof" has been
given about his involvement in 26/11, Durrani claimed, "We
have found no linkage and you have given us zero proof...
Genuinely there is no evidence. Shall we arrest him without
reason? Can you do it here?"
After the Mumbai attack, Durrani was the first Pakistani
functionary to acknowledge Pakistan nationality of Ajmal
Kasab, the lone terrorist arrested during the three-day
assault, and soon after that statement, he was sacked on
January 7.
"All the telephonic transcripts (given by India) which
were relevant were used. You gave us information, we
investigated. You gave us five names, we have arrested seven
people. Then we have put out list for 11 (absconding) people.
We have gone beyond that," the former Pakistani NSA said.
"Everybody seems to have forgotten that and everybody
has latched onto Hafiz Saeed. Yaar uski jaan choro (Spare
his life). To hell with the chap," Durrani, who was here in
connection with an Observer Research Foundation Lecture, said.
He termed as "incorrect" the assertion by Home Minister
P Chidambaram that "cogent and concrete" evidence had been
given to Pakistan detailing how Saeed was involved in the
Mumbai attack.
"I can't say it is nonsense because it is a senior
minister who is saying this. But it is incorrect. There is no
truth in this. He (Saeed) is not involved," he said, adding
"There has been a split, Al Qaida is different, he is
different."
He contended that making "statements like this" would
not help the relationship.
Durrani was also dismissive about the Red Corner Notice
issued by Interpol against Saeed recently.
"It means nothing in terms of investigation. Red tag
means 'you watch' him. He is under watch. He was even put in
protective custody and what happened? The court threw him out,
saying there is no evidence."
Durrani also countered Chidambaram's contention that
role of Pakistani establishment in the Mumbai attack could not
be ruled out.
"There is a perception here that military or ISI was
involved (in Mumbai attack). I know for sure, for 110 per
cent, they were not involved. They were as surprised as your
people were," the former NSA contended.
"In fact, our intelligence services say if India had
shared information that something is going to happen, may be
we could have helped in stalling (it)," he said.
Laying emphasis on cooperation between the two
countries, Durrani said Pakistan is "literally at war" against
terrorism and "this is time when we need help, we need
understanding by India, rather than pushing us."
Queried whether India was "pushing" Pakistan, he replied
"this (talk about) Hafiz Saeed and all, (saying Pakistan is)
not doing enough, isn't this pushing?"
The former NSA said the "very deep-rooted mistrust"
between India and Pakistan was "one of the biggest problems"
and "there is no magic wand that you wave and mistrust goes.
It can only be small and incremental steps of confidence
building that will remove the mistrust."
When pointed out that the mistrust had only grown after
the Mumbai attacks as India feels that Pakistan is taking only
superficial actions, Durrani said "This is sad." PTI
New Delhi, Sep 9 (PTI) Mahmood Ali Durrani, who was
sacked as Pakistan's National Security Advisor when he
acknowledged Ajmal Kasab's Pakistani nationality, has insisted
that Jamaat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed had no role in the 26/11
terror strike and asked New Delhi not to "push" Islamabad.
Maj Gen (retd) Durrani said India and Pakistan should
set up a joint investigative team into Mumbai attack, rather
than New Delhi sending "pieces of paper" (containing
information on the attack).
He took objection to the statements by India that
Pakistan is not doing enough on Mumbai attacks, particularly
on Hafiz Saeed, saying New Delhi should be "understanding"
instead of "pushing us" on it.
In an interview to PTI here, he insisted that Pakistan
was doing all it can to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators
of Mumbai attack but it was not being acknowledged by India.
When referred to Hafiz Saeed who continues to be a free
man despite India's assertion that "enough proof" has been
given about his involvement in 26/11, Durrani claimed, "We
have found no linkage and you have given us zero proof...
Genuinely there is no evidence. Shall we arrest him without
reason? Can you do it here?"
After the Mumbai attack, Durrani was the first Pakistani
functionary to acknowledge Pakistan nationality of Ajmal
Kasab, the lone terrorist arrested during the three-day
assault, and soon after that statement, he was sacked on
January 7.
"All the telephonic transcripts (given by India) which
were relevant were used. You gave us information, we
investigated. You gave us five names, we have arrested seven
people. Then we have put out list for 11 (absconding) people.
We have gone beyond that," the former Pakistani NSA said.
"Everybody seems to have forgotten that and everybody
has latched onto Hafiz Saeed. Yaar uski jaan choro (Spare
his life). To hell with the chap," Durrani, who was here in
connection with an Observer Research Foundation Lecture, said.
He termed as "incorrect" the assertion by Home Minister
P Chidambaram that "cogent and concrete" evidence had been
given to Pakistan detailing how Saeed was involved in the
Mumbai attack.
"I can't say it is nonsense because it is a senior
minister who is saying this. But it is incorrect. There is no
truth in this. He (Saeed) is not involved," he said, adding
"There has been a split, Al Qaida is different, he is
different."
He contended that making "statements like this" would
not help the relationship.
Durrani was also dismissive about the Red Corner Notice
issued by Interpol against Saeed recently.
"It means nothing in terms of investigation. Red tag
means 'you watch' him. He is under watch. He was even put in
protective custody and what happened? The court threw him out,
saying there is no evidence."
Durrani also countered Chidambaram's contention that
role of Pakistani establishment in the Mumbai attack could not
be ruled out.
"There is a perception here that military or ISI was
involved (in Mumbai attack). I know for sure, for 110 per
cent, they were not involved. They were as surprised as your
people were," the former NSA contended.
"In fact, our intelligence services say if India had
shared information that something is going to happen, may be
we could have helped in stalling (it)," he said.
Laying emphasis on cooperation between the two
countries, Durrani said Pakistan is "literally at war" against
terrorism and "this is time when we need help, we need
understanding by India, rather than pushing us."
Queried whether India was "pushing" Pakistan, he replied
"this (talk about) Hafiz Saeed and all, (saying Pakistan is)
not doing enough, isn't this pushing?"
The former NSA said the "very deep-rooted mistrust"
between India and Pakistan was "one of the biggest problems"
and "there is no magic wand that you wave and mistrust goes.
It can only be small and incremental steps of confidence
building that will remove the mistrust."
When pointed out that the mistrust had only grown after
the Mumbai attacks as India feels that Pakistan is taking only
superficial actions, Durrani said "This is sad." PTI
