In a bizarre drama, Pakistan's National Security Adviser Maj Gen(retd) Mahmud Ali Durrani was sacked on Wednesday for having indicated days ago that Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone Pakistani terrorist arrested for the Mumbai terror attacks, may have been a Pakistani, a fact ironically confirmed by the government earlier in the day.

A brief statement issued by the Prime Minister's House said Yousuf Raza Gilani had sacked Durrani "for his irresponsible behaviour of not taking Prime Minister and other stakeholders into confidence and lack of coordination on matters of national security".

Gilani was quoted by Geo News channel as saying that he had sacked Durrani for commenting on the issue of the nationality of Iman alias Ajmal Kasab without taking him (Gilani) or the government into confidence.

The premier told the channel that Durrani's "irresponsible" comments had affected Pakistan's image and went against the government's policies.

The move came soon after Information Minister Sherry Rehman and Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq both told reporters that an investigation by Pakistani security agencies had confirmed that Iman was a Pakistani national.

Rehman also said Pakistan's investigation into the Mumbai attacks was continuing.

Some reports suggested that Durrani's sacking would have to be endorsed by President Asif Ali Zardari.