Gilani authorised me to speak on situation with India: Durrani

Sacked Pakistani national security adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani says he did not cross the "official brief" while speaking on Ajmal Kasab's nationality.

Sacked Pakistani national security adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani has said he did not cross the "official brief" while speaking on Ajmal Kasab's nationality, adding that Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani's directive authorised him to talk on the "evolving situation" with India following the Mumbai terrorist attack, a media report said on Tuesday.

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Durrani believes that "perhaps he was made a scapegoat", Geo TV reported.

Probably, Durrani said, the prime minister felt "left out" in taking key decisions, and this might be a reason for his dismissal.

The report said: "This implied that Gilani apparently feels irritated over the fact that it is the presidency where all major decisions are being taken whereas it should be the prime minister's office for such national business."

"The prime minister had every right and authority to send me home, but the way he did it was not nice although otherwise he is a fine gentleman. I wish him success," Durrani said adding: "The way I was sacked... I was painted as if I have committed a grave crime."

He said through an official letter issued on the directive of the prime minister in December, it was decided that only the national security adviser, the foreign minister and the information minister have the authorisation to speak on the "evolving situation" with India in the wake of the Mumbai terrorist attack, the report said.

He said that Pakistan must have excellent relations with the United States, being the sole superpower. "On my own, I worked hard to make my place for Pakistan in the influential American think-tanks and the US administration to bring about good ties between Islamabad and Washington."