Pakistani Official Is Fired

Gilani's Dismissal of Security Adviser Reflects Serious Rift

ISLAMABAD -- The dismissal of a top Pakistani security official reveals growing divisions within the government here over how to handle investigations into November's terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday sacked the country's national security adviser, Mahmood Durrani, for confirming that the sole surviving Mumbai attacker, Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, is a Pakistani citizen.

The unexpected move exposed deep strains in the shaky civilian administration. President Asif Ali Zardari, who appointed Mr. Durrani to his post, wasn't consulted on the decision to fire him and learned of it only after it had been made public, according to presidential aides.

Mr. Durrani, a retired army general, was fired shortly after an interview with an Indian television network Wednesday in which he confirmed that Mr. Kasab is a Pakistani. A statement issued by Mr. Gilani's office that evening accused Mr. Durrani of "irresponsible behavior" and of making an unauthorized announcement.

Mr. Durrani, who had also served as ambassador to Washington, said he was shocked when he heard the news of his removal on a private Pakistani news network. He denied any wrongdoing. "It had already been decided that we should confirm that the gunman was a Pakistani because hiding that makes no sense," he told The Wall Street Journal in a telephone interview Thursday.

Mr. Durrani's disclosure marked the first time a Pakistan government official has acknowledged Mr. Kasab's Pakistani origin. Since the Mumbai attacks, Islamabad had dismissed any Pakistani link to the 60-hour siege of India's commercial and financial center, which sharply escalated tension between two nuclear-armed South Asian rival powers. The attacks claimed 171 lives, including those of nine terrorists -- all said by India to be operatives of Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

It wasn't immediately clear why Mr. Durrani was singled out for punishment for confirming Mr. Kasab's nationality. A few hours after his disclosure, Pakistan Information Minister Sherry Rehman and the country's foreign ministry also publicly confirmed Mr. Kasab's Pakistani citizenship.

India has blamed Lashkar-e-Taiba, once patronized by Pakistan's military spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence, for staging the Mumbai attacks. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stepped up a war of words with Islamabad this week, alleging publicly for the first time that the assault "must have had the support of some official agencies in Pakistan." Islamabad has denied the allegation.

Mr. Durrani's dismissal came amid reports of mounting differences between Prime Minister Gilani and President Zardari. Political analysts said Mr. Durrani's sacking was the latest instance of confusion over who is in charge in Pakistan.

In his interview, Mr. Durrani contended he was removed because Mr. Gilani was unaware of a decision by Mr. Zardari and senior security officials to publicly confirm Mr. Kasab's nationality and because the prime minister felt the need to exert his authority. Officials at the prime minister's office weren't immediately available for comment.

A senior aide to Mr. Zardari said the president wasn't consulted by Mr. Gilani on his decision to dismiss Mr. Durrani, which he came to know about after it had already been announced. "The prime minister did not consult anyone, not even his cabinet ministers," said the aide.

A reversal of the decision by Mr. Zardari could plunge the country into a serious political crisis, the aide said, because it would openly pit Mr. Zardari against Mr. Gilani.

Pakistan's civilian government, which came to power last year after more than eight years of military rule, has multiple power centers, including a president and a prime minister who are both vocal and visible. The Pakistan military also remains a powerful political force, despite the country's return to civilian rule.

Under Pakistan's constitution, the prime minister is the country's chief executive, but, in fact, all major decisions are taken by President Zardari -- a situation that is creating tension between the two leaders. Mr. Durrani was appointed to his security post by Mr. Zardari and reported to the president directly, an arrangement political analysts said Mr. Gilani resented.

Analysts said the Durrani affair also underscores the indecisiveness that prevails in Pakistan's government over how to deal with India.

"There is no coherent approach on the issue," said Hasan Askari Rizvi, a former professor at Punjab University and a leading political and defense analyst.

While Mr. Zardari's administration supports a more conciliatory policy with India and closer ties with the U.S., the military leadership persists in taking a harder line against Pakistan's traditional rival. "The escalating tension with India has helped the military to reassert its position," said Mr. Rizvi.

Some analysts believe Mr. Durrani was removed because of pressure from the military, which viewed the national security adviser as too soft on India.