Zardari vows to take strong action against any elements involved in Mumbai attacks
Friday, 5 December 2008
ISLAMABAD, Dec 4 (agencies): Pakistan's president has vowed to take "strong action" against any elements in his country involved in last week's attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai,.
Asif Ali Zardari made the pledge during a meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, his office said.
Speaking after the meeting, Ms Rice said she found the Pakistani leadership "focused" and "committed" on the issue.
Tensions have risen amid Indian claims of Pakistani links to the attacks, which killed at least 188 people. Islamabad denies any role and has cast doubt on the allegations.
But President Zardari, during his meeting with Ms Rice, repeated an earlier promise to help investigate the attacks, his office said.
Pakistan is determined to ensure its territory is not used for any act of terrorism, the statement went on.
Meanwhile, a Pakistani group has denied any connection with the banned militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba, which is suspected of being behind the Mumbai attacks.
A spokesman for Jama'at ud Dawa , Abdullah Muntazir, suggested homegrown Indian militants were involved instead. "I do not believe the attacks in Mumbai could have been carried out by Muslims," he told reporters.
Ms Rice described her talks with Mr Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani and the country's army chief as "quite satisfactory".
Anger is growing in India that the Mumbai attacks were not prevented
Another report adds: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the Pakistani government Thursday that it must mount a "robust response" to the terror shootings in India, which blames the carnage on terrorists operating from neighbouring Pakistan.
After expressing US condolences for the more than 170 deaths in India, Rice flew to Pakistan for meetings with civilian and military leaders. The US wants broader sharing of intelligence and a commitment by Pakistan to root out terror groups that have found a comfortable perch in the Muslim country.
On the flight from New Delhi, Rice told reporters Pakistan has to determine how it is going to respond to last week's attacks in the Indian commercial capital of Mumbai.
"It just has to be a robust response and one that is effective" in bringing the terrorists to justice. "But I've also been emphasizing the importance of prevention here," she said. "The Pakistanis are sophisticated; they've been dealing with terrorism themselves for some time. So I'm going there to talk about a Pakistani response, not to carry messages."
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told Rice later during a meeting in Islamabad that the Mumbai attacks were "beyond anyone's imagination" and stressed his government's efforts to boost relations with India since taking office in March.
"My instinct was to fight against terrorism," Gilani said.
With Pakistan complaining that India has shared no evidence linking it to the attacks, Rice spent Wednesday urging cooperation between the nuclear-armed rivals. But the rhetoric in both countries only grew hotter.
Asif Ali Zardari made the pledge during a meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, his office said.
Speaking after the meeting, Ms Rice said she found the Pakistani leadership "focused" and "committed" on the issue.
Tensions have risen amid Indian claims of Pakistani links to the attacks, which killed at least 188 people. Islamabad denies any role and has cast doubt on the allegations.
But President Zardari, during his meeting with Ms Rice, repeated an earlier promise to help investigate the attacks, his office said.
Pakistan is determined to ensure its territory is not used for any act of terrorism, the statement went on.
Meanwhile, a Pakistani group has denied any connection with the banned militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba, which is suspected of being behind the Mumbai attacks.
A spokesman for Jama'at ud Dawa , Abdullah Muntazir, suggested homegrown Indian militants were involved instead. "I do not believe the attacks in Mumbai could have been carried out by Muslims," he told reporters.
Ms Rice described her talks with Mr Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani and the country's army chief as "quite satisfactory".
Anger is growing in India that the Mumbai attacks were not prevented
Another report adds: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the Pakistani government Thursday that it must mount a "robust response" to the terror shootings in India, which blames the carnage on terrorists operating from neighbouring Pakistan.
After expressing US condolences for the more than 170 deaths in India, Rice flew to Pakistan for meetings with civilian and military leaders. The US wants broader sharing of intelligence and a commitment by Pakistan to root out terror groups that have found a comfortable perch in the Muslim country.
On the flight from New Delhi, Rice told reporters Pakistan has to determine how it is going to respond to last week's attacks in the Indian commercial capital of Mumbai.
"It just has to be a robust response and one that is effective" in bringing the terrorists to justice. "But I've also been emphasizing the importance of prevention here," she said. "The Pakistanis are sophisticated; they've been dealing with terrorism themselves for some time. So I'm going there to talk about a Pakistani response, not to carry messages."
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told Rice later during a meeting in Islamabad that the Mumbai attacks were "beyond anyone's imagination" and stressed his government's efforts to boost relations with India since taking office in March.
"My instinct was to fight against terrorism," Gilani said.
With Pakistan complaining that India has shared no evidence linking it to the attacks, Rice spent Wednesday urging cooperation between the nuclear-armed rivals. But the rhetoric in both countries only grew hotter.