Rice says Pakistan committed to India probe

4 Dec 2008, 4:08 pm   -   Source: AFP
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US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged a united stand against terrorism on a visit to Pakistan aimed at easing relations with India over last week's attacks in Mumbai.

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US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged a united stand against terrorism on a visit to Pakistan aimed at easing relations with India over last week's attacks in Mumbai.

With tensions rising between them since India said that all the attackers in the brazen assault that left 188 people dead had come from Pakistan, Rice praised Pakistan's efforts in the "war on terror."

"I think it is clear that Pakistan is fighting its fight against terrorists," she said at a joint press conference with President Asif Ali Zardari before winding up her lightning visit to the country.

She said she had found Pakistan's leadership "focused and committed" tohelping India investigate the attacks.
  
Pakistan has been a key US anti-terror ally since the September 11 attacks seven years ago, but many critics openly question whether elements in the Pakistan military and intelligence services support Islamist militants.

Pakistan's role in the "war on terror" has come under renewed focus since last week's stunning assault in Mumbai, which saw militants with guns and grenades lay siege to hotels and other sites in the city for 60 hours.

India says there is "no doubt" that all the militants, including the sole gunman captured alive and now in custody, had come from Pakistan and been coordinated from within Pakistan.

Zardari has repeatedly insisted that Pakistan is not responsible for the carnage and has demanded proof of India's allegations -- which have also been backed up by US officials.

Suspicion has fallen on Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based militant group which has fought Indian control of divided Kashmir and which attacked the Indian parliament in 2001, nearly pushing the two nations to another war.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947, and both nations now have nuclear weapons. A peace process between them has been slow-moving, and mistrust is high.

Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee told Rice on Wednesday that his country was considering all options in responding to the attacks, which also left more than 300 people wounded.

Rice visited India on Wednesday and spent Thursday in Pakistan, meeting with Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and other officials, looking to calm tensions and ensure Pakistani cooperation in the investigation.

The United States is also concerned about any military stand-off with India that might see Pakistan move troops from the border with Afghanistan – a crucial area where Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters have been gaining ground.

"I do want to thank you for the leadership role that you have taken," she told Zardari at the press conference.

But the Pakistan president indicated that any suspects on its soil would not be extradited to India. New Delhi has demanded that Pakistan hand over 20 terror suspects, including Lashkar-e-Taiba's founder, Hafiz Saeed.

The attacks targeted two luxury hotels, a Jewish centre, a popular cafe, a packed railway station and a hospital. Among the dead in the city, India's financial capital, were 22 foreign nationals.
Rice's visit came as India said it had put all its major airports on high alert following warnings of possible attacks using hijacked airlines.

"This is based on a warning which has been received by the government and we are prepared as usual," Indian Air Chief Marshal Fali Major told reporters.

Government sources said all major airports -- including New Delhi,Bangalore, Mumbai and Kolkata -- were on high alert.

Indian police on Wednesday discovered and defused more explosives leftbehind by the highly trained attackers at Mumbai's main railway station.
 

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