Pakistan navy chief contradicts government

The Asif Ali Zardari-led civilian administration’s failure to control Pakistan’s defence establishment came to fore again on Friday with the navy chief contradicting the government and claiming the terrorists did not use the sea route in the 26/11 attack.

India rubbished the denial as another Pakistani flip-flop.

Pakistan has publicly admitted that the 10 terrorists, including Mohammed Ajmal Amir aka Kasab, the lone gunman to be captured alive, had set sail from Karachi. In fact, interior minister Rahman Malik had publicly given details of the boat used by the terrorists, admitting the strikes were partly plotted in Pakistan.

But admiral Noman Bashir told reporters in Karachi on Friday: “We have seen no evidence that confirms he [Ajmal] went from Pakistan to Mumbai.” “If he did go from here, when he entered Indian waters, where was the Indian Navy?” Bashir asked, denying the evidence forwarded by New Delhi.

New Delhi made light of the statement, with home minister P Chidambaram saying: “The (Pakistani) navy chief said this, I’m sure someone else will contradict that remark.”

Bashir’s denial came on a day when Zardari sacked his special public prosecutor for speaking out of turn on Ajmal. Sardar Mohammad Ghazi had said Pakistan could seek Ajmal’s custody for questioning. Bulletproof cell for Kasab, p2