Pak Navy chief retracts statement on Kasab

Adding to flip-flops over the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan's Navy Chief today retracted his statement that Ajmal Amir Kasab did not take the sea route and said he backed Interior Ministry's report that nine terrorists had sailed from Karachi to launch the strikes.

Adding to flip-flops over the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan's Navy Chief on Saturday retracted his statement that Ajmal Amir Kasab did not take the sea route and said he backed Interior Ministry's report that nine terrorists had sailed from Karachi to launch the strikes.

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Admiral Noman Bashir, who had yesterday contended that the navy had no evidence to prove that Kasab took the sea route, said he was not contradicting Interior Ministry's report on the Mumbai attacks.

"We have not been directly involved in the investigation, which is under the domain of the Interior Ministry. Therefore they are better equipped, they have better knowledge and information," he said.

Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik had admitted on Feb 12, when Pakistan gave its response to Indian dossier, that the Mumbai attacks were "partly" plotted on Pakistan soil and launched from its shores for which it has arrested six persons. Malik had said nine terrorists had travelled in three boats from Karachi to Mumbai.

"We have no contradictory opinion on the report prepared by them. Whatever evidence they have is correct. I won't contradict it," Admiral Bashir said.