NSC rejects Nawaz's statement on Mumbai attacks

A meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC), the country’s top civil-military body, was held on Monday to discuss the situation arising out of the recent remarks of PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif about the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
"The meeting reviewed the recent statement in the context of Mumbai attacks, as it appeared in the Daily Dawn of 12th May 2018, and unanimously termed this statement as incorrect and misleading," said a press release issued after the 22nd NSC meeting held at Prime Minister’s House.
"The participants observed that it was very unfortunate that the opinion arising out of either misconceptions or grievances was being presented in disregard of concrete facts and realities. The participants unanimously rejected the allegations and condemned the fallacious assertions."
It is pertinent to mention that the statement by the NSC did not name Nawaz while addressing the controversy around the 'misleading' comments about Mumbai attack.
According to the handout, it was recalled during the meeting that the delay in conclusion of Mumbai attack case was caused by India, not Pakistan.
"Besides many other refusals during the investigation, the denial of access to the principal accused, Ajmal Qasab, and his extraordinarily hurried execution became the core impediment in the finalisation of the trial."
Meanwhile, Pakistan continues to await cooperation from India regarding the arrest of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav and the Samjhota Express attack, the statement said.
"The National Security Committee resolved that Pakistan shall continue to play its due role in fighting the war against terrorism at all fronts," it concluded.
Presided over by Prime Minister Abbasi, the NSC meeting was attended by Defence and Foreign Minister Khurram Dastgir, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, National Security Adviser Retired Lt General Nasser Khan Janjua, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Zubair Hayat, the director generals of Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence, and the three services chiefs.

PM Abbasi conveys military's concerns to Nawaz

Following the meeting, Prime Minister Abbasi met Sharif, who earlier in the day during a chat with reporters read excerpts from his interview to Dawn and dispelled the notion that the comments were falsely attributed to him. "Will speak the truth come what may," he said. "What did I say that was wrong in the interview?"
During the meeting that lasted nearly 30 minutes, Abbasi briefed Sharif about the discussions held during the NSC meeting and conveyed to him the concerns of the military leadership regarding the Mumbai attacks, sources told DawnNewsTV.
According to sources, Sharif reiterated his stance and questioned if anyone could explain what was wrong with his comments.
The prime minister and his predecessor also discussed the future plan of action.

Controversy over remarks

The convening of the meeting was announced by the military's media wing on Sunday evening.
“(The) NSC meeting suggested to (the) prime minister to discuss recent misleading media statement regarding Bombay (Mumbai) incident. Being held tomorrow (Monday) morning,” Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor had shared through his official account on Twitter.
Political analysts believe that these latest developments indicate further aggravation in the already tense civil-military relationship at a time when elections are just a couple of months away, Dawn reported. They believe that the announcement by the ISPR chief through social media indicates that the military authorities have decided to seriously take up the issue and that they want Prime Minister Abbasi’s stance over the matter.
In an exclusive interview to Dawn published on Saturday, Sharif while speaking on matters related to the country’s foreign policy had stated: “Militant organisations are active. Call them non-state actors, should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Explain it to me. Why can’t we complete the trial?” He was referring to the Mumbai attacks-related trial proceedings which have stalled in the Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court.
“It’s absolutely unacceptable. This is exactly what we are struggling for. President Putin has said it. President Xi has said it,” Sharif had said.
Soon after the publication of Sharif's interview, the Indian media blew up his remarks, terming it an admission on part of the former prime minister that non-state actors from Pakistan were involved in the Mumbai attacks in which terrorists had killed more than 150 people and injured over 300 others in about a dozen shooting and bombing attacks in different localities.
Nawaz says, 'will speak truth' without fearing consequences
Former Premier Nawaz Sharif said on Monday that he will speak the truth without fearing any consequences.


He was talking to media persons inside the accountability court and said that those who dare to ask questions termed as traitors. He remarked, “he who conducted atomic tests is being called a traitor”.    
He added that he is not the first one to have accepted these facts.
Nawaz was referring to his recent statements in an interview regarding about the involvement of Pakistan’s non-state actors in the Mumbai attacks of 2008.   
"What did I say that was wrong in the interview?", he asked. 
Nawaz said, “I had asked a question. I need an answer,” while reading his statement during the interview from his mobile phone to strengthen his view point. 
He further remarked that this is the reason the world does not accept Pakistan’s stance and said that it is important to ask why that is.
A local media outlet reported that Nawaz, when asked by a reporter on Monday to comment on the impression that India has been reluctant to provide evidence in the case, responded, "There is no shortage of evidence — there is plenty of evidence."
Another reporter pointed to Nawaz's acknowledgment of the presence of "non-state actors", to which Maryam Nawaz, who was accompanying her father, replied, "So then who was Zarb-i-Azb [military operation] conducted against?"
The former premier, however, interrupted and refrained his daughter from speaking any further. 
Differences within the ruling party surfaced following the issuance of contradictory statements by the Sharif brothers on the issue.
While Nawaz did not at all contradict his remarks, his younger brother and PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif, who is also the chief minister of Punjab, issued a statement on Sunday, saying that the news report had “incorrectly attributed certain remarks to PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif, which do not represent PML-N’s party policy”.“Militant organisations are active. Call them non-state actors, should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Explain it to me. Why can’t we complete the trial?” he had asked in the interview, referring to the Mumbai attacks-related trial proceedings which have stalled in the Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court.


The former Prime Minister’s statements has caused backlash from various political parties and public.
A meeting of the National Security Committee is held at PM house Islamabad, on the 'suggestion' of the army, to discuss the controversial statement. 
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