No Comment
Labels:
News
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday she found Pakistan's leaders to be "focused and committed" in helping India probe attacks in Mumbai that stoked tension between the two countries
"I found the Pakistani leadership very focused and committed," she told reporters after talks with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and senior army officials
Meanwhile, Pakistan's president has said he will take ``strong action'' against elements in his country that were involved in the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, according to AP
President Asif Ali Zardari's office said he made the pledge during talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Islamabad today. A presidential statement said Zardari also repeated a promise to help investigate the attacks and said Pakistan was determined to ensure its territory is not used for any act of terrorism. The top US diplomat flew into Islamabad from New Delhi to defuse tensions between India and Pakistan after New Delhi blamed elements in Pakistan for the last week's attacks in India's commercial hub. Earlier, the US secretary of state told Pakistan's government that it must mount a ``robust response'' to the terror shootings in India, which blames the carnage on terrorists operating from neighboring 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 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 Mumbai. ``It just has to be a robust response and one that is effective'' in bringing 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 President Asif Ali Zardari, who has vowed full cooperation with India, told Rice later in Islamabad that the attacks were a chance to strengthen efforts against terrorism. ``We are looking at this as an opportunity and I intend to do everything in my power,'' said Zardari, who has pointed to the slaying a year ago of his wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, to underline his anti-terror credentials. With Pakistan complaining that India has shared no evidence linking it to the attacks, Rice spent Wednesday urging the two to cooperate. But the tension between the nuclear-armed neighbors appeared only to rise. Foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday said there was ``no doubt'' the assailants were Pakistani and that their handlers were in Pakistan. ``The government of India is determined to act decisively to protect Indian territorial integrity and the right of our citizens to a peaceful life, with all the means at our disposal,'' he said, a turnaround from earlier statements that ruled out military action. Rice said Pakistan bore a ``special responsibility'' to help get to the bottom of the attacks. Her visit to the region to urge a common response to the crisis was complemented by that of the top American military officer. During a stopover in Pakistan on Wednesday, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, urged Zardari and his army and spy chiefs to ``investigate aggressively any and all possible ties to groups based in Pakistan,'' the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad said. Mullen also ``encouraged Pakistani leaders to take more _ and more concerted _ action against terrorist extremists'' beyond Taliban and al-Qaida strongholds near the Afghan border, the embassy said in a statement. Mullen is in India on Thursday. While Zardari has made a series of peace overtures to India, he, however, he indicated on Wednesday he would not hand over 20 suspects wanted by India and said they would be tried in Pakistan if there was evidence of wrongdoing
"I found the Pakistani leadership very focused and committed," she told reporters after talks with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and senior army officials
Meanwhile, Pakistan's president has said he will take ``strong action'' against elements in his country that were involved in the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, according to AP
President Asif Ali Zardari's office said he made the pledge during talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Islamabad today. A presidential statement said Zardari also repeated a promise to help investigate the attacks and said Pakistan was determined to ensure its territory is not used for any act of terrorism. The top US diplomat flew into Islamabad from New Delhi to defuse tensions between India and Pakistan after New Delhi blamed elements in Pakistan for the last week's attacks in India's commercial hub. Earlier, the US secretary of state told Pakistan's government that it must mount a ``robust response'' to the terror shootings in India, which blames the carnage on terrorists operating from neighboring 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 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 Mumbai. ``It just has to be a robust response and one that is effective'' in bringing 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 President Asif Ali Zardari, who has vowed full cooperation with India, told Rice later in Islamabad that the attacks were a chance to strengthen efforts against terrorism. ``We are looking at this as an opportunity and I intend to do everything in my power,'' said Zardari, who has pointed to the slaying a year ago of his wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, to underline his anti-terror credentials. With Pakistan complaining that India has shared no evidence linking it to the attacks, Rice spent Wednesday urging the two to cooperate. But the tension between the nuclear-armed neighbors appeared only to rise. Foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday said there was ``no doubt'' the assailants were Pakistani and that their handlers were in Pakistan. ``The government of India is determined to act decisively to protect Indian territorial integrity and the right of our citizens to a peaceful life, with all the means at our disposal,'' he said, a turnaround from earlier statements that ruled out military action. Rice said Pakistan bore a ``special responsibility'' to help get to the bottom of the attacks. Her visit to the region to urge a common response to the crisis was complemented by that of the top American military officer. During a stopover in Pakistan on Wednesday, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, urged Zardari and his army and spy chiefs to ``investigate aggressively any and all possible ties to groups based in Pakistan,'' the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad said. Mullen also ``encouraged Pakistani leaders to take more _ and more concerted _ action against terrorist extremists'' beyond Taliban and al-Qaida strongholds near the Afghan border, the embassy said in a statement. Mullen is in India on Thursday. While Zardari has made a series of peace overtures to India, he, however, he indicated on Wednesday he would not hand over 20 suspects wanted by India and said they would be tried in Pakistan if there was evidence of wrongdoing
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Post a Comment