Sharif does a U-turn, asks India for proof on Kasab

Lahore: Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif has backtracked on his statement that Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab is a Pakistani.

Sharif, who is the chief of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), said in Lahore that India must provide evidence that Kasab is indeed a Pakistani and added that he is confident that Pakistan was not involved in the Mumbai terror attacks.

"India should provide Pakistan with evidence first. If they do so, I shall personally speak to Mr. Zardari to carry out investigations," Sharif said while urging India not to use 'provocative language'.

Sharif's latest remarks suggest a climb down from his earlier stand where he hinted that the manner in which security agencies were dealing with the Kasab family suggested there was something to hide.

Reacting to Sharif's latest statement on Kasab, PML-N Chairman Raja Zafr-ul-Haq said, "Nawaz was the one who started the peace process (between India and Pakistan). He still has the resolve to bring the two countries together. The authorities in Pakistan have followed the UNSC ban (on Lashkar-e-Toiba front Jamaat-ud-Dawa) in letter and spirit"

Earlier, in a major embarrassment for the Pakistan Government, Sharif on Friday (December 19) said that captured Mumbai attacker Ajmal Kasab was indeed a Pakistani.

Sharif also slammed the alleged cover up at Faridkot, the village that Kasab hails from, advising President Zardari to come clean and investigate terror links thoroughly.

“They cordoned off Kasab’s village Faridkot. His parents weren’t allowed to meet anyone. What was the need for all this? We have to put our house in order,” Sharif said.

Sharif had also argued that instead of going to the United Nations Security Council over the Mumbai attacks, India should have shared intelligence with Pakistan.