PTI
NEW DELHI, Dec 22: Seeking to call Islamabad's bluff, India on Monday handed over to Pakistan a letter written by the lone surviving terrorist involved in the Mumbai strikes wherein he confirms the nationality of himself and the nine slain attackers as Pakistani.
The letter, written by Ajmal Mohd Amir Kasab, was handed over to Pakistan's Acting High Commissioner Afrasiab when he was summoned by Joint Secretary (Pakistan) in the External Affairs Ministry T C A Raghavan.
"In his letter, addressed to the Pakistan High Commission, Kasab has stated that he and the other terrorists, killed in the attack, were from Pakistan," the External Affairs Ministry said.
Kasab has sought a meeting with the Pakistan High Commission officials for legal aid to him.
In the letter, Ajmal has asked the Pakistan High Commission to take custody of the body of fellow terrorist Ismail Khan, who was killed in an encounter in south Mumbai the same night.
Kasab, who hails from Faridkot village in Pakistan's Punjab province, was captured on November 26 soon after the group of 10 heavily-armed terrorists launched attacks in Mumbai.
The terrorist, who is in police custody till Wednesday, wrote the letter last week and it was forwarded by the Mumbai police to MEA for handing it over to the Pakistan High Commission.
India has blamed Pakistan-based elements, including the LeT, for the attacks and sought action against them. Pakistan has repeatedly said India should provide evidence on the links to the attacks through diplomatic channels.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik on Monday briefed Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani about developments in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks.
Gilani said Pakistan is a peace-loving country and does not "harbour aggressive designs against anyone".
Pakistan's desire for "peaceful coexistence should not be taken as weakness", the premier was quoted as saying in an official statement.
"If war is imposed upon us, the whole nation would be united and the armed forces are fully capable of safeguarding and defending the territorial integrity of the country," Gilani said.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistan wants cordial ties with all its neighbours, including India.
"I have been requesting after the Mumbai attacks that we have to adopt a responsible attitude in this difficult situation as we are neighbours and both countries should jointly face the challenge of terrorism and take forward our common interest," he said.
Replying to a question, Qureshi said there is "no danger of war" between India and Pakistan as both countries cannot afford it.