U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Pakistan on Wednesday to cooperate with India's investigations into the Mumbai attacks that have sorely tested relations between the two neighbors.
Rice was in New Delhi to meet with Indian leaders a week after the terrorist attacks that left more than 170 people dead in the country's financial capital.
At a news conference, she said the U.S. was already sharing information that could help with the investigation into the attacks. But when asked whether she thought al-Qaida was involved, Rice said U.S. officials would not jump to conclusions.
"Whether there is a direct al-Qaida hand or not, this is clearly the kind of terror in which al-Qaida participates," she said.
Rice said Pakistan has a "special responsibility" to cooperate and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Her Indian host at an evening news conference was far more direct.
"I informed Dr. Rice that there is no doubt that the terrorist attacks in Mumbai were perpetrated by individuals who came from Pakistan and whose controllers are in Pakistan," Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.
Police on Wednesday discovered leftover explosives hidden in a bag in Mumbai's main train station — a stunning new example of botched security after the deadly rampage that left the government open to accusations that it missed warnings and bungled its response.
Police in Mumbai have released the names of the nine gunmen killed after the attacks. They said the names were provided by the lone surviving gunman, who is in police custody.
India has blamed what officials termed "elements" in Pakistan for the attacks, but Pakistani officials said they have yet to receive any proof. The two nations were on the brink of a fourth war in 2002, just a few years after both demonstrated nuclear weapons capabilities, following an attack on India's parliament by Islamist militants.
They pulled back after frantic diplomacy by the United States and other allies.
From NPR staff and wire reports
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. 9(MDAzMjM2NDYzMDEyMzc1Njk5NjAxNzY3OQ001))
