Attack part of larger ‘design’, says India, Rice for tough Pak action

Rice, who leaves for Islamabad tomorrow where she is expected to convey the same tough message, sought to underline US support and cooperation, asking the Indian establishment to work systematically through the investigations and assuring that Washington will do all it can to get Islamabad to extend help.

After her talks with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Rice said: “The fact is non-state actors perform from the confines of the state. There has to be direct and tough action (by Islamabad).” She made it clear that “non-state actors” were “still a matter of your (Pakistan) responsibility that somehow relates to your territory”.

Earlier, Rice met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Mukherjee, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Leader of Opposition L K Advani. Both countries are involved in some hectic diplomacy after the attacks. In Washington, Foreign Secretary Shivshanker Menon engaged Bush administration officials, including US Under Secretary of State (Political Affairs) William Burns and senior Democrat lawmakers Christopher Dodd, Richard G Lugar, Chuck Hagel and John Kerry — most are being considered for positions in the new Barack Obama administration — over the last two days.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was in Islamabad today, will be coming to New Delhi tomorrow and meet Defence Minister A K Antony.

New Delhi has raised the temperature saying “what action will be taken will depend on what response we get from Pakistan (on the demarche)”.

“The Government is determined to act decisively to protect its territorial integrity and the safety and security of our people with all means at our disposal,” Mukherjee said. “There is no doubt that terrorist acts were perpetrated by individuals who came from Pakistan and whose controllers are in Pakistan. This assessment is widely shared by the international community.” He said India expects the international community to ensure that Pakistan arrests and brings to justice perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks.

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