National security adviser sacked in Pakistan

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

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Mahmood Ali Durrani, a former ambassador to the U.S. and seen by critics as too friendly with Washington, was fired late Wednesday because "he gave media interviews on national security issues without consulting the prime minister," said Imran Gardaizi, spokesman for Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

The decision came hours after Indian media quoted Durrani as saying the surviving Mumbai attacker was Pakistani, according to an account by The Associated Press. Other top Pakistani officials separately confirmed Mohammed Ajmal Kasab's nationality to media outlets the same day.

Meanwhile, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher arrived in New Delhi yesterday to discuss the progress of investigations into the Mumbai attacks and douse tensions sparked by sharp exchanges between India and Pakistan, according to an account by Reuters news agency.

Indian officials said they would take the opportunity to discuss with the United States "a way ahead from the present situation." "We will look at what options we have on the table and what is the level of international support for those options," Reuters quoted a senior official as saying.

India is expected to share with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Boucher the latest in the Mumbai investigations. The FBI is helping in that probe.