Pakistan pledges action on any group involved in Mumbai attacks
Posted: 29 November 2008 2316 hrs

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ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told a press conference Saturday that Pakistan will take action against any group within its borders if it was involved in the Mumbai attacks.

"Any entity or group involved in the ghastly act, the Pakistani government will proceed against it," he told reporters in a televised press conference.

He was briefing reporters after Pakistan's cabinet held crisis talks about growing tensions over Indian accusations that attackers originated in Pakistan or had links to Pakistan.

"They are suspecting that perhaps groups, organisations that could be involved in these attacks that could have a presence here," he said.

"What we have said is if they have information, if they have evidence, they should share it with us."

"We are a responsible nation and a responsible neighbour and we will behave and act responsibly," he said.

He added that the members of the Pakistani cabinet universally condemned the attacks during their special meeting.

"Terrorism, in the cabinet's opinion, is a common threat to both nations and we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Indian people to defeat this enemy and defeat this menace," he said.

The crisis meeting was held after Pakistan retracted its offer to send the powerful chief of its intelligence agency to Mumbai to help the investigation, amid Indian allegations of Pakistani involvement in the terror attacks that claimed 195 lives.

Qureshi sought to defuse the controversy over the decision not to send the head of the Inter Services Intelligence agency to Mumbai, saying there had never been an agreement for such a visit.

"Indians did not request for a visit. It's too early for them and for us," he said.

He added the ISI would cooperate with the Indian government and the investigation of the attacks.

Qureshi, who was visiting India when the Mumbai attacks took place, said when he gave interviews to Indian media about the tragedy he urged them to act responsibly while they fingered Pakistan as the source of the attack.

"I'm concerned -- I could see India warming up towards Pakistan. Lowering of tensions is essential," Qureshi said.

"Pakistan is not on the defensive. The government of Pakistan and all the institutions of Pakistan are unanimous that Pakistan is not involved in this ghastly act," he added.

New Delhi has in the past accused Pakistan, and particularly the ISI, of helping militants attack Indian targets, including the Indian embassy in Kabul earlier this year.

- AFP /ls