Pakistan refuses UK Mumbai appeal
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| British police want to interview Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab |
BBC News
Pakistan has rejected Gordon Brown's request that UK police be allowed to question Pakistani suspects held over November's attacks in Mumbai.
The prime minister asked for Scotland Yard detectives to be given the access, during talks in Islamabad on Sunday.
But Mr Brown's Pakistani counterpart, Yousaf Raza Gilani, said his country would "follow our laws".
The plea was made because UK citizen Andreas Liveras was among the 170 people murdered during the attack.
Mr Gilani told the country's parliament: "I want to assure you that when I met the British prime minister yesterday, he asked if... we would allow them to investigate those people."
He said his answer was no.
"It is our country and our laws will be implemented. We'll follow our laws."
Pakiastan's neighbour, India, is supported by Britain and the United States in its attempts to urge Islamabad to crack down on militant groups following the Mumbai attacks.
Mr Brown said the "terrible terror outrages" had shocked the whole world and the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group, thought to be responsible, had "a great deal to answer for".
During his visit, he unveiled a £6m ($8.9m) deal with Pakistan, which he called "the most comprehensive anti-terrorist programme" between the UK and another country.
He also said 75% of the most serious terror plots being investigated by UK authorities have links to Pakistan.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "We have offered our police to assist in Pakistan's investigations.
"We will continue to offer what support we can, including police expertise.
"It is for the governments of Pakistan and India to investigate the attacks and work together to ensure those responsible for these heinous crimes are held accountable."
India has urged Pakistan to take action over the recent attacks.
Pakistan denies any involvement, but has promised to co-operate with the Indian investigation.
Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab, the sole gunman taken alive following the Mumbai attacks, is being held by police in India and therefore is not the subject of Mr Brown's request.