Pakistan distances itself from condemned Mumbai gunman

Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday distanced itself from the Pakistani gunman sentenced to hang over the 2008 Mumbai attacks but called for perpetrators of the siege to be brought to justice.

An Indian judge imposed the death penalty against 22-year-old Pakistani Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab on four counts of murder, waging war against India and conspiracy and terrorism offences.

"We would appreciate that our legal experts need to go through the detailed judgement," Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit told reporters in Islamabad when asked about the death sentence.

"Pakistan has strongly condemned the horrific Mumbai attack. It is important that culprits are brought to justice," he added.

Asked whether Pakistan would provide legal assistance to Kasab, or a Pakistani-American charged with terrorism in the United States over a failed New York bomb attack, however, Basit said distinctions needed to be made.

"It is incumbent upon the government of Pakistan to provide whatever assistance possible to all its nationals abroad.

"Having said that we need to draw a distinction as to where the assistance is required and where it is not," the spokesman said.

Pakistan has said it will soon consult India on fixing a date to meet with a view towards resuming a peace process, which New Delhi suspended after blaming the Mumbai carnage on Pakistani-based militants.

The prime ministers of India and Pakistan agreed to work towards resuming their frozen peace dialogue at their first direct talks in nine months, held last week on the margins of a regional summit in Bhutan.

India and the United States blamed radical Pakistani-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba for the Mumbai attacks.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since the subcontinent's 1947 partition.