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Talking tough with Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs in India has summoned the Pakistan High Commissioner after strong links to Pakistan in the Mumbai terror attack emerged.
"What we are emphasizing to the Pakistani government is the need to follow the evidence wherever it leads," Rice said. "I don't want to jump to any conclusions myself on this, but I do think that this is a time for complete, absolute, total transparency and cooperation and that's what we expect."
At President George W. Bush's direction, Rice is cutting short a European trip to visit India later this week. Attacks spanning three days killed more than 170 people in the Indian commercial capital Mumbai, including six Americans.
Indian leaders pointed fingers at "elements in Pakistan" although it is not yet clear where the well-planned operation originated.
"We share the grief and the anger of the Indian people but of course Americans were also killed in this attack and they were killed deliberately because they were Americans," Rice said during a news conference aboard her plane en route to London. "That makes this of special interest and concern to the United States."
Attackers chose sites representing the city's wealth and tourism, and reportedly sought out Westerners as victims. Rice will see Indian leaders in New Delhi. She does not plan to go to Mumbai.
A previously unknown Muslim group called Deccan Mujahideen – a name suggesting origins inside India - has claimed responsibility for the attacks. But Indian officials said the lone surviving gunman, now in custody, told authorities he belonged to a Pakistani militant group with links to the divided Himalayan territory of Kashmir.
India has blamed "elements" from Pakistan for the 60-hour siege during which suspected Muslim militants hit 10 sites across Mumbai.
Pakistan denied it was involved and demanded evidence.
India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of complicity in terrorist attacks on its soil, many of which it traces to militant groups fighting Indian rule in Kashmir. The U.S. has tried to persuade Pakistan to shift its security focus from India, with which it has fought three wars, to Islamic militants along the Afghan border.
Rice said Pakistan's U.S-backed civilian president, Asif Ali Zardari, has pledged to improve relations.
Zardari replaced President Pervez Musharraf earlier this year and has established polite but distanced relations with Washington. Musharraf was a military man and a Bush administration ally against terrorism, but that closeness cost him support at home.
"It's a difficult task for this new Pakistani government," Rice said, referring to the way Islamabad will respond to the attacks next door. "They know this is a time to step up to the task."
Rice spoke Sunday with President-elect Barack Obama, their third conversation about India in as many days.
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Who cares which of the Islamo-facist oraganization is responsible!! Is is not enough to know that they were all Muslims and came from training in Pakiatan??! What is India waiting for. This is an act of war!!! And a courageous and upright leadership would give a fitting answer. But our leaders are men made of straw with no guts and much less competence. The whole leadership in Maharashtra is made up of persons who have no attachmen to Bombay and are only there to line their pockets. Enough of this Indian "Democracy". We need Army rule with a leader like Field Marshall Manekshaw to bring this in order!!!
THERE MIGHT NOT BE AN INVOLVEMENT OF PAKISTAN GOVT IN THE TERRORISTS ASSAULT IN BOMAY. THEREFORE, INDIA SHOULD CONSCIOUSLY FORM ITS WORD TO GET THEIR FULL CO-OPERATION. UNLIKE INDIA, PAKISTAN HAS MANY MANY POWER POINTS WHICH CONTROL ARMY, INTELLIGENCE AND THE ADMINISTRATION. ABOVE ALL OF THEM, THE FANATIC, CRIMINAL AND EXTREMIST CULTURES. EVERYHOME IN PAKISTAN WHETHER IN BALUCHISTAN, SIND, PUNJAB OR OTHER PLACES, THEY HAVE ATLEAST 4 UNLICENSED GUNS TO COMBAT AT THEIR GIVEN TIME AND AT THEIR CHOICE TARGET. THIS IS UNPARALLEL TO THE CULTURED COUNTRIES. THE GOVT. KNOWS THIS, THE POLITICIANS KNOW THIS AND THE INTELLIGENCE DEPT. HAS THE FULL INFORMATION; BUT NO RAID OR CONFISCATION. SO, THIS IS THE RULE IN DOMESTIC SECTOR AND ONE CAN IMAGINE THE LIBERTY EXERCISED BY EXTREMIST OUTFIT ORGANIZATIONS, IN PARTICULAR LASHKAR-E-THOIBA. THEY HAVE FULL FLEDGED OFFICES WITH ALL FACILITIES AND TECHNOLOGIES. THE PAK GOVT SHOULD CONTROL THEM AND AT FIRST DEPOT DAWOOD IBRAHIM.
The PM and the President have no control over their Army, ISI.
The US should politely told that the elements behind Mumbai terrorist attack are same as those behind terrorism on Pak-Afghan border. So, if in name of not weakening the fight on Pak-Afghan border, they try to pressure India to be soft on Pakistan, then it does not help them at all. Then Pakistan will not be forced to act against these elements and the Terrorist groups will get bolder against democratic countries. In fact they will further try to destroy the fledgling democracy in Pakistan as well. IN any case the US needs to be also informed that India will have no choice but to fight terrorism which affect it, with options suitable for it, and at India's discretion. Mere moral support here, even if desirable, is not effective.
pakistan is not involved in mumbay attacks, these militants were indians and they were from many organizations which are want their seperate country,,,
india always bleam pakistan, if indian police and indian nevy is unable to protect theire country man, than how they can cleam pakistan..
Though the investigations are still in progress, can the government show the people of India and the world at large proof of Pakistan's complicity. This may be the chance to nail Pakistan once and for all. There seems to be enough evidence - 1 terrorist caught alive, 8 or 9 dead faces, some satellite phone(s) etc.
It is correctly said “nothing short of complete cooperation”. It is now up to Pakistan administration to launch a full investigation and bring all responsible to justice.