Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani yesterday assured India that his government had investigated information it had provided over the Mumbai attacks and would respond soon.

Last month, India handed Gilani's government what it said was evidence linking "elements" in Pakistan to the November attacks on India's financial capital, in which 10 gunmen killed 165 people during a 60-hour siege.

"I assure the world, the media and Indian government that the dossier has been investigated by the ministry of interior and referred to the ministry of law and justice," Gilani told a news conference at his official residence.

"After their approval, I will take the world into my confidence," he added.

New Delhi has blamed the attacks on the banned militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is active in Indian-ruled Kashmir, but the Pakistan-based organisation has denied responsibility.

Pakistan has confirmed that the lone surviving Mumbai gunman, now in Indian custody, is one of its citizens. But it has insisted that the attackers were "non-state actors."

To be charged in Pakistan

Gilani told the news conference that anyone found guilty in Pakistan in connection with the Mumbai attacks would be punished under Pakistan's laws, implying that no suspects would be handed over to India.

"We are committed against terrorism and extremism. We assure India that if someone is found guilty we will proceed according to our own law," Gilani said.

He acknowledged that the Mumbai attacks had harmed Pakistan's relations with India and did not expect these to improve immediately.

In 2004, Pakistan and India began a peace process to resolve their dispute over Kashmir, the Himalayan region which each rules in part but both claim in full. The process was put on hold after the Mumbai attacks.

"Actually, after the recent incidents in Mumbai, there is a lot of hostility (against Pakistan) and tremendous public pressure on the government of India, so the relations cannot be improved immediately," Gilani said.

- AFP