NEW DELHI, Dec 22: India on Monday handed over to Pakistan a letter it says was written by the lone surviving terrorist involved in the Mumbai strikes, claiming the letter confirms his nationality as a Pakistani and that of nine slain attackers too, Press Trust of India said.

A statement by the Pakistan High Commission acknowledged receiving the letter but appeared to be circumspect over its authenticity. “This evening the Indian government has forwarded to Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi a letter from one ‘Mohammad Ajmal Mohammad Ameer Kasab’ who claims to be a Pakistani,” the high commission said.

“He has sought assistance of a lawyer and a meeting with the Pakistan High Commission. The contents of the letter are being examined.”

India’s foreign ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said the letter established the terrorist’s nationality: “In his letter, addressed to the Pakistan High Commission, Kasab has stated that he and the other terrorists, killed in the attack, were from Pakistan.”

PTI said Mr Kasab has sought a meeting with the Pakistan High Commission officials for legal aid to him.

According to the Indian account, the alleged surviving terrorist of the Mumbai massacre has asked Pakistan’s High Commission to take custody of the body of the alleged fellow terrorist Ismail Khan, said to have been killed in south Mumbai the same night.

PTI identified Mr Kasab as a resident of Faridkot village in Pakistan who was captured on November 26 soon after the group of 10 heavily armed terrorists launched attacks in Mumbai.

The terrorist, who is in police custody till Wednesday, wrote the letter last week and it was forwarded by the Mumbai police to the foreign ministry for handing it over to the Pakistan High Commission, it said.

A Pakistani official said the letter was dated 19th December.