Egypt on Tuesday formally informed Pakistan that none of its nationals were involved in the Sharm El-Sheikh terrorist incident. Foreign Office Spokesman Naeem Khan said the Pakistani Ambassador in Cairo has been informed about the statement made by Egyptian First Assistant Interior Minister Major General Mohammad Sharawi, who denied the media reports about involvement of Pakistanis in Sharm El-Sheikh bomb blasts.
Earlier, The Egyptian ambassador in Islamabad also confirmed that no Pakistanis were involved in the blasts.
Cairo police had earlier said they were searching for several Pakistani nationals in relation to the bombings that killed scores of people at the weekend in the popular resort.
But on Tuesday Cairo's ambassador to Islamabad called Pakistan's Foreign Office and said, "At no time did the Egyptian government accuse Pakistanis of involvement in these attacks," an Egyptian Embassy statement said.
President Pervez Musharraf, who has come under Western pressure to stamp out extremism following the London bombings, on Monday denied al Qaeda could have planned the latest attacks from Pakistani soil.
Musharraf said his security forces had largely dismantled Osama bin Laden's network within Pakistan and al Qaeda had become an international 'phenomenon' and a "state of mind".
APP NEWS AGENCY ALSO QUOTED: the Egyptian ambassador as saying Cairo was concerned the media reports may damage relations between the two countries, which were on a strong footing.
"We will continue to cooperate with Pakistan and other countries in the fight on terror," he told APP.
The ambassador praised Pakistan, which, he said, was playing a leading role in the ongoing war against international terrorism.
"Pakistan has paid a heavy price," he told APP. "We support Pakistan and wish the country success in the fight against terrorism."
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