ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government yesterday confirmed that the lone surviving Mumbai attacker captured by India was a Pakistani national. “We have just been informed by the concerned authorities that Ajmal Qasab is a Pakistani national,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Pakistan had previously said that Qasab’s name was not on the record of the country’s national database of citizens and India had not provided concrete evidence. The confirmation came two days after India said it had provided new evidence about links between the Mumbai attackers and elements in Pakistan.

Information Minister Sherry Rahman also confirmed Qasab’s Pakistani nationality. “We are confirming Qasab is from Pakistan but investigations are ongoing,” she said in a text message.

But the foreign secretary of Pakistan, soon after that contradicted Mahmud Durrani’s statement saying, “matter is being investigated and it appears Indian media have twisted statement of security adviser.

As the foreign secretary made his statement, Durrani told reporters, “my statement was not aired in its letter and spirit. In fact Indian channels twisted my statement.”

Earlier in the day, Durrani was quoted by some Indian TV channels as saying that Qasab has been recognized as a Pakistani national. However, official sources conceded to Arab News that “initial investigations have confirmed that Ajmal Qasab is a Pakistani national.”

India maintains that all 10 militants involved in the Nov. 26-29 Mumbai carnage which left 174 dead, including nine of the gunmen, came from Pakistan.

Meanwhile, according to transcripts of intercepted telephone calls made public yesterday militants who attacked Mumbai were urged to kill their hostages in cold blood and fight to the death in the name of Islam. In one exchange, one of the two attackers who stormed the luxury Oberoi-Trident hotel was told to “inflict the maximum damage” and to “kill all hostages, except the two Muslims” they were holding.

“We have three foreigners, including women,” the attacker identified as Fahadullah said. “Kill them. Keep your phone switched on so that we can hear the gunfire,” he was told.

The transcript then said the two attackers were heard to tell the two Muslims to step aside and order the hostages to stand in a line. Gunfire was heard, then cheering.