Date:05/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/05/stories/2008120550070100.htm

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Zardari promises action

Nirupama Subramanian

Islamabad focussed on fighting terror: Rice

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari promised “strong” action against any Pakistani elements found involved in the Mumbai attacks after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday who asked the government here to act with “urgency” to bring the perpetrators to book.

Ms. Rice sought to send out the message that the U.S. was interested in finding the perpetrators by underlining in her meetings with the Pakistani leadership that U.S. nationals were also killed.

Meets Gilani, Gen. Kayani

The U.S. official, who also met Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Army chief Gen. Asfaq Parvez Kayani, told a press conference later that she found the Pakistan government “focused” and “committed” to rooting out terrorist elements.

Mr. Zardari’s office said in a statement that he “reiterated that the government will not only assist in the investigation but also take strong action against any Pakistani elements found involved in the attack[s].”

According to the statement, he told Ms. Rice that Pakistan was “determined to ensure that its territory is not used for any act of terrorism.”

A more detailed statement from the Prime Minister’s office said that in her discussions with Mr. Gilani, the Secretary of State “noted that not only innocent Indians but nationals of other countries including the United States had been targeted.”