Islamabad, Jan 07: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday night sacked National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durani for saying that Kasab is a Pakistani national.

A local television channel reported quoting unnamed official sources as saying that the lone surviving terrorist involved in the Mumbai attacks is a Pakistani, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said he would not confirm the news report.

Replying to the channel's claim that Pakistan National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durani had conveyed to it that Kasab is a Pakistan and that he would be giving a report to the Prime Minister's Office in this regard, Bashir had said he had just spoken to Durani, who told him that he had also heard some media report.

Bashir said Pakistan welcomed investigation into the issue and that the proper way to go forward would be carry it out with responsibility and not get into any controversy on this point.

Asked if he was denying that Kasab is a Pakistani, he said "what I am saying, mark my words, we are not in a position at this point to confirm this and it should not be sensationalised."

He said India has provided "information" to Pakistan on the Mumbai attacks and "we are prepared to work with our friends in India to get to the bottom of it in a professional way in a crime investigation.

Asked about his deposition before the Foreign Relations Committee of the National Assembly yesterday on India's evidence given to Pakistan, the Foreign Secretary said whatever he said yesterday and today is basically Pakistan was prepared to deal with the issue in all seriousness and would not like "things to be taken globally".

"What India shared with us is not evidence but information. We look forward to cooperation, more information sharing, we can get to do our job," he said.

Bureau Report