The Pakistani official told The Nation that if India did this, Indian investigators or any other law enforcement agency from across the world could be given access to the wanted persons on Pakistani soil.

The Sunday Times reported that Zarar Shah admitted under interrogation that he advised the terrorists by phone as the attacks unfolded. Controllers in Pakistan watched television and warned the gunmen of the arrival of Indian commandos, the report said, citing evidence handed over by the FBI to the Pakistani government.

The FBI had decoded Skype calls over the internet that were made between the gunmen in Mumbai and their LeT controllers in Pakistan, identified as Shah, Abu Hamza and Abu Qafa, it said.

Talking in colloquial Punjabi, the controllers repeatedly told the attackers “Aag lagao” (“light the fire”), which can be interpreted as maximising casualties.

During the conversation, the men were also instructed to kill all the Israelis held captive in Nariman House, but to spare all the Muslims, it said.

Qureshi today reiterated that Islamabad had not received anything “officially from India”.

After the Mumbai attacks, he said, Pakistan adopted a strategy with three objectives: to avoid war as it offers no solutions; to protect Pakistan from international isolation; and to save the country from internal destabilisation. “I will not say we have achieved the objectives but we are close to achieving them,” he said.

Qureshi also said there was no link between the Kashmir issue and the Mumbai attacks. “Pakistan’s stand on the Kashmir issue remains the same. Mumbai is an issue that is related to terrorism,” he said.

... contd.