Is Nawaz Sharif Trying to Backtrack on His 26/11 Mumbai Attacks Admission?

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party has issued a statement dismissing all claims with regard to former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's remarks on 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, stating it has been 'grossly misinterpreted' by the Indian media.

The statement shared by Nawaz Sharif's daughter, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, on Twitter read, "PML-N would like to set the record straight on the interview of PML-N Quaid carried yesterday by DAWN. At the outset, statement of the Quaid has been grossly misinterpreted by the Indian media."

"The PML-N as the country's premier popular national political party and its Quaid need no certificate from anybody on their commitment and capacity to preserve, protect and promote Pakistan's national security," it further read, criticising opposition leaders, who have been questioning his loyalty towards Pakistan.

On May 11, Sharif in an exclusive interview to a Pakistan daily, The Dawn, had said that terrorists sent by Pakistan were responsible for the 26/11 attacks. "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?" Nawaz noted in the interview in a reference to the Mumbai attacks-related trials which have stalled in a Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court.

Sharif's remarks have sparked a debate in Pakistan with his opponents criticising him for toeing the Indian line while many praised him on social media for having the courage to speak the truth. The Times of India reported that a meet of Pakistan's civilian and military leaderships is expected to take place over former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's admission of his county's involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, top-level government sources said on Sunday. Sources privy to the development said a meeting of the National Security Committee, Pakistan's highest forum, headed by the PM and mandated to consider national security and foreign policy matters, is likely to take place within the next two days.

Sherry Rehman, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) senator and leader of the opposition in the Senate, slammed Sharif on Sunday, saying "PPP rejects Nawaz Sharif's statement and stance on the Mumbai attacks," she said, adding that questions were being raised all around the world following Sharif 's remarks.

Pakistan has so far not completed trial in the 26/11 case.

On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists had sailed into Mumbai from Karachi and carried out coordinated attacks in different parts of the city, killing about 166 people and injuring over 600 others.

The Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) was believed to have plotted the 26/11 attacks. Its mastermind, Hafiz Saeed, has been roaming freely in Pakistan. India has, time and again, protested against Islamabad for harbouring Saeed, who is wanted for allegedly plotting the 2008 attack. (With Agency inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 14, 2018 07:51 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).