India's home minister says the conviction of the lone surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai attacks was a message to Pakistan not to export terror.
"The judgment itself is a message to Pakistan that they should not export terror to India," P. Chidambaram told reporters after the conviction of Pakistani national Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab for his role in the 60-hour siege.
"If they do, and we apprehend the terrorists, we will be able to bring them to justice and give them exemplary punishment."
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'Triumph of justice system'
He said the trial was a triumph for the Indian justice system and an answer to critics who had called for Kasab to be hanged without due legal process.
"The trial of Kasab underlines the fact that India is a country governed by rule of law," he said.
Families of the victims said the verdict gave them faith in the Indian judicial system, adding that they looked forward to the judge awarding the death penalty to Kasab.
"I trust the judiciary. Kasab should be hanged to death and we should show no mercy to him," Smita Salaskar, wife of a police officer killed during the attacks, told reporters.
'Anger, anguish, hatred'
"We have waited for the verdict for the last 521 days. Anger, anguish, hatred and hope -- all emotions have moved us during the trail," she said.
Madhukar Zende, who worked as a railway announcer at the station where Kasab gunned down several commuters, said: "I am happy that Kasab is paying for his sins, you reap what you sow."
Bharat Gujjar, 33, who survived the attack on a popular restaurant during the assault, said Kasab's execution should be broadcast on television as a clear signal to other militants in Pakistan planning attacks.
Ruling to make Pakistan 'accountable'
"Why should we keep Kasab alive? I have heard talk of the Pakistan government asking for Kasab's custody. But if that is done, I am sure he will be saved," Gujjar said.
Milind Deora, a Congress MP from Mumbai said that the verdict should be used by India to make Pakistan more accountable to shut down "terror camps".
"It is in their interest to shut down terror camps," he said.
The Mumbai attacks were blamed by India on Pakistan-based Islamist extremist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and elements in the Pakistani military, which severely strained ties with Islamabad which are yet to recover.
