U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
speaks during a news conference in Islamabad before leaving Pakistan
December 4, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice Thursday cautioned India from taking steps that could worsen
the situation and hoped that Pakistan and India would keep the lines of
communication open.
Rice flew into Islamabad Thursday morning and held
talks with Pakistan's President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza
Gilani aimed at reducing tension between Pakistan and India over attacks in
Mumbai.
"It doesn't help to do something that might worsen
the problem or have unintended consequences," Rice told a news conference at the
end of her short visit to Islamabad.
"I have made that clear on both stops but there needs to be action urgently and transparently," She said.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani (R) shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Islamabad December 4, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
"Whatever is done, the response has to be effective
both in bringing people to justice and in preventing a further attack," she
said. "That has been a message that has been well received here in Pakistan
because it is Pakistan's fight as well."
Asked about any possible Indian strike on elements
within Pakistan, Rice said that the most effective way to respond was through
international cooperation including India and anyone else who can help like the
U.S., Britain and includes Pakistan.
"Because obviously these terrorists work in a way
that does not always respect borders, usually it doesn't respect borders, and it
is extremely important to act when something like this happens," she said.
Rice said that she and Pakistan leaders talked at
some length on the Mumbai attacks and about the importance of Pakistan taking
its responsibility to deal with those who may use Pakistani territory even if
they are non-state actors.
"I found a Pakistani leadership that is very focused
and committed for its own reasons because Pakistan has been a victim of these
terrorist elements," she said.
When asked about India-Pakistan relations and
military tension like moving troops from the Afghan border, Rice said that she
heard "nothing but reasonable and responsible discussion in both India and
Pakistan about the problem here, about the attack on Mumbai".
To a question on U.S. role in investigation, Rice
said that the U.S. was prepared to help in whatever way it could.
Rice's one-day visit to Islamabad is aimed at
reducing tension between Pakistan and India over attacks in Mumbai.
Indian officials have blamed the Pakistan-based
Lashker-e-Taiba(LeT) for the Mumbai attacks that have spoiled relations between
the two countries.
Besides seeking "strong action" against "elements
from Pakistan" linked to the attacks, India has asked Pakistan to hand over 20
most wanted men, including LeT founder Hafiz Mohammed Saeed.
Pakistan has offered to conduct a joint investigation
into the attacks. But Zardari said Wednesday that the suspects wanted by India
in the attacks on Mumbai would be tried in Pakistan if there was concrete
evidence against them.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
speaks during a news conference in New Delhi December 3, 2008. Rice urged
Pakistan on Wednesday to cooperate "fully and transparently" in
investigations into the Mumbai attacks that have roiled India-Pakistan
relations.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
NEW DELHI, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice said here Wednesday that greater intelligence sharing among
India and Pakistan are needed, the NDTV reported.
Addressing a joint press conference with Indian External
Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Rice said Pakistan has a central role to play
to make certain terrorists not function. Full story
ISLAMABAD, Dec. 3
(Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan was in no way
responsible for Mumbai attacks, the News Network International (NNI) news agency
reported on Wednesday.
In an interview with Cable News Network (CNN), Zardari
also said there was no evidence that a suspect in custody was a Pakistani
national as Indian officials claimed, according to the NNI. Full story
