'Pakistan should also hang an Indian in Pak jail'

Residents of Ajmal Kasab's village in Pakistan, after hearing the news of the execution of the terrorist, have lashed out at India.

The impoverished village of Faridkot, the former home of the 25-year-old Kasab, who was the lone terrorist arrested during the 2008 Mumbai attacks, lies in the farming belt of Punjab province. Residents of Faridkot are mostly illiterate farmers and labourers.

Villagers were largely unresponsive when asked about Kasab's hanging in India.

"We don't like anyone being given capital punishment. It is better to pardon. India is Pakistan's enemy and wants to weaken our country. We have no interest whatsoever in what India did with Kasab," said farmer Ghulam Mustafa Wattoo.

The villagers denied that Kasab used to live in their village and became hostile when asked to talk about the terrorist.

"This is a conspiracy against Pakistan. India deliberately implicated Pakistan to get it declared a terrorist state," said Muhammad Zaman.

Ghulab Khan, another villager, suggested Pakistan should respond to India in a similar manner.

"Pakistan should also hang an Indian incarcerated in a Pakistani jail," he said.

Kasab was hanged at a jail in Pune's Yerwada jail at 7.30 am on Wednesday after President Pranab Mukherjee rejected his appeal for mercy.

He was sentenced to death in May 2010 after he was found guilty of a string of charges, including waging war against India, murder and terrorist acts.

He appealed in the Supreme Court claiming he did not receive a fair trial, but his petition was struck down in August.