Yet to receive officially Kasab’s request for lawyer: Pak

Basit said nothing has been received officially or formally from India in this regard.

Kasab had told a special court in Mumbai on Wednesday that he wanted a Pakistani lawyer to represent him after the judge revoked his order appointing Anjali Waghmare as his counsel.

Replying to another question on the general elections in India and the party Pakistan would prefer to see in power in the neighbouring country,Basit said “we are ready to work with any government that comes to power once the elections are over.”

“We are looking forward to working with any government. It is for the people of India to decide (whom they vote for),” he said.

When asked about Prime Minister Manmohan Singh linking resumption of talks to Pakistan taking action against terrorism,Basit said terrorism is a global phenomenon and the Mumbai attacks,which had “internal and external dimensions”,had confirmed this.

“Only through cooperation can the two countries effectively fight terrorism and extremism,and not through dis-engagement,” he said

It was up to India to respond to Pakistan’s “positive” steps,Basit said.