Cases against Ajmal: India to wait for official communication

India on Wednesday adopted a wait-and-watch approach on reports from Pakistan that cases have been filed against Mohammad Ajmal Amir and 13 others, saying it will comment only after receiving official communication.

"I do not know, until you get the report from them," External Affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters here when asked to comment on reports that Pakistani officials have registered cases against Ajmal and thirteen others.

He said the problem is that unless India has official information from authoritative sources in Pakistan it would be difficult for any official spokesperson to comment on it.

"Let us wait for what they have done and let us wait for the official report from Pakistan," Mukherjee said. 

Pakistani media, quoting sources, said cases have been registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act against Ajmal and 13 others in connection with the Mumbai attacks on the basis of the probe conducted by the Federal Investigation Agency.

When reporters sought his comment on Mumbai attacks not being discussed by US special envoy Richard Holbrooke's meetings with the Pakistani leadership, the minister made it clear that India did not form a mandate of the US official.

"It is not so far his concern. His mandate is to deal with Pakistan and Afghanistan, not India," Mukherjee said. 

He said Holbrooke is visiting India and "we will discuss" the Mumbai attacks and its aftermath with him.