Pakistan has completed investigation into the Mumbai attacks and will soon formally respond to the Indian dossier, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani told reporters here.

Gilani said the Indian government had come under tremendous pressure from its people in the wake of Mumbai carnage that caused bitterness in the ties between the two countries.

"I assure the world, the media and the government and people of India that the dossier has been investigated and has been forwarded to the ministry of justice and after its approval I will take you into confidence," the Pakistani premier said on Sunday evening while addressing a news conference on return from Davos (Switzerland) where he attended the World Economic Forum summit. He said Pakistan always desired better ties with India and pointed out that it enjoyed cordial ties with Iran and Afghanistan.

Gilani said Pakistan had gained significantly at the diplomatic level with his visit to Davos. He claimed that in his meetings with various world leaders in Davos, he had been able to convince them that military operations alone were not the solution to terrorism and that a comprehensive strategy was essential to win hearts and minds.

"I also tried to make them realise that US drone attacks in our tribal areas are proving counterproductive,” he said.

Gilani said he would not rule out 'foreign hand' in the unrest in Swat. "We have the will and ability to fight out terrorists but we will use the strategy of minimum collateral damage. We have changed our strategy in Swat," he added.

To criticism that none of the federal or provincial government leaders have visited Swat despite the deteriorating situation there, Gilani said Swat was as close to his heart as his native town Multan and promised to visit the troubled valley soon.

He said he had advised President Asif Zardari to form a parliamentary committee to review the proposed bills for the repeal of the 17th Amendment.

He debunked speculations that the federal government was planning action in Punjab to topple the PML(N)-led government.

Reacting strongly to the gaffe committed by Pakistan high commissioner in London over probe on Mumbai attacks, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has issued strict orders to ministers and other officials to restrict themselves to their own assignment and not to dangle in affairs that do not come under their purview.

Asked about Pakistan’s high commissioner to UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan’s statement that investigations by the Pakistani authorities have concluded that the Mumbai attacks were neither planned nor originated in Pakistan, Gilani said: “At times people meddle in other’s domain instead of performing their own duties.”

He said he had passed clear and strict directions to all officials to restrict themselves to their departments adding the high commissioner had given his explanation.

He said he had already instructed his ministers and others not to interfere in the matters related to others. He said he was very strict about it and said he sought an explanation from Wajid and was satisfied with his response.

Wajid’s statement caused considerable concern in Islamabad that it would reinforce the Indian perception that Pakistan is not serious about addressing the Indian sensibilities over the Mumbai carnage and was still in a state of denial despite the evidence provided by the Indian authorities.

Both Prime Minister Gilani and foreign minister Shah Mahmud Qureshi publicly snubbed the high commissioner.

Meanwhile, in a statement from London, Wajid clarified that his interview with the NDTV had been twisted.

He said he had only refuted the ‘insinuations’ that the attacks were planned in the UK. “Such stories are merely speculative,” Hasan said.

“Official findings have been completed and would be submitted soon to the president, the prime minister and the cabinet.”

Colombo, February 2
At least nine patients were killed and 20 others injured when artillery shells hit a crowded hospital in Sri Lanka’s northern war zone, sparking fresh concerns over security of trapped civilians, even as 46 Tamil Tigers died in fierce fighting with troops.

The hospital, situated in rebel-held territory of Puthukkudiyiruppu in the Wanni region and housing around 500 patients, suffered direct hits in two separate shellings yesterday afternoon, aid agencies said today.

The shells, which fell into the pediatrics and women’s wards other than a kitchen and a chapel, killed nine patients and wounded 20, Red Cross spokeswoman Sarasi Wijeratne said.“We’re shocked that the hospital was hit and for the second time in recent weeks,” said Paul Castella, head of the Colombo delegation of ICRC.

The incident intensified concerns over the nearly 250,000 civilians trapped in war zone in the north where LTTE remnants are engaged in a do-or-die battle with the advancing troops who had recaptured most of the rebel-held areas in recent fighting.

The Sri Lankan army denied any involvement in the shelling and blamed the Tamil Tigers.

In clashes elsewhere, 46 LTTE cadres were killed and two senior members of the outfit injured as troops moved to capture the remaining rebel-held areas supported by air raids by fighter jets in the fringes of Mullaittivu, the military said. — PTI

Kandahar, February 2
A suicide attacker wearing police uniform detonated at a police station in Afghanistan's province of Uruzgan today, killing at least 18 police officers, the authorities said.

"In the suicide blast, 18 policemen were martyred and several others were wounded," Juma Gul Himat, the provincial police chief, said.

Policemen at the reserve unit in the provincial capital, Tirin Kot, had been getting ready to stand in line for the morning exercise when the suicide bomber set off explosives strapped to his body, he said.

It was not immediately clear if the attacker was a policeman from the unit or someone who had managed to acquire a uniform and infiltrate his way into the crowd, Himat said. — AFP

London, February 2
In a throwback to the George Bush shoe-throwing incident, a protestor today threw a shoe at Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao interrupting his speech at the Cambridge University here.

The shoe thrown by a “young Western-looking man” missed by a few feet the Chinese leader, whose visit to London has been marred by pro-Tibetan protests, the Times online reported.

Wen was nearing the end of his address on global economy when the man stood up, blew a whistle and shouted: “How can the university prostitute itself with this dictator? How can you listen to these lies?” He then took off his shoe and threw it at the stage missing Wen by a few feet.

“Stand up and protest, you’re not challenging him,” he shouted in “European accent” before being bundled out of the room, the Times said.

The act of shoe-throwing as a mark of protest was first witnessed in Iraq in December last year when Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zeidi threw his shoes at former US President George W Bush. The journalist, whose attempts to hit Bush failed, was however arrested by security forces.

Following the incident, Wen said: “This despicable behaviour cannot stand in the way of friendship between China and the UK.” He was then ushered away by security personnel. Wen’s visit has been marred by anti-China protests in London, which saw around 50 pro-Tibetan demonstrators gather outside 10 Downing Street today. Five protestors were arrested after they held demonstrations yesterday. — PTI

Tokyo, February 2
A volcano near Tokyo erupted early today, with white smoke billowing and ash falling on the capital, Meteorological Agency said.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage following the minor eruption of the 2,568-m Mount Asama, 150 km north-west of Tokyo.

The volcano last erupted in August last year. Live television footage showed smoke coming from the snow-covered mountain seven hours after the eruption, shortly before 2230 IST yesterday.

The agency warned of a possible fall of rocks within 4 km of the crater. —AFP