India asks Pakistan to increase security at embassy

Indian foreign ministry spokesman confirms that the demand had been made as 'there was a need for extra security'.

NEW DELHI: India has asked Pakistan to increase security at its embassy, officials said Thursday after the execution of militant Mohammed Kasab who was hanged for his role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

India notified Pakistan on Tuesday of the imminent execution and asked for higher security out of fear of demonstrations or possible reprisals.

Kasab admitted to being a member of Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

"We did ask for precautionary measures in terms of protecting our diplomats in Pakistan. We sent a missive to that effect," Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid told foreign journalists late Wednesday after the execution.

An Indian foreign ministry spokesman confirmed on Thursday that the demand had been made as "there was a need for extra security".

Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, 25, was hanged at a prison in western India after being convicted of "waging war on India" for his role in the three-day assault on India's commercial capital that left 166 people dead.

Kasab, a former labourer and small-time criminal, was the only survivor out of 10 heavily-armed gunmen who laid siege to the city in what was intended as a suicide mission.