New Delhi, November 28, 2008 (IANS)

India Friday said that preliminary information indicated the involvement of "some elements" in Pakistan in the terror strikes in Mumbai that killed over 125 people. Pakistan was quick to deny the charge and asked New Delhi not to “play politics”, saying the two countries needed to tackle this collective issue together.

"According to preliminary information, some elements in Pakistan are responsible for the Mumbai terror attacks," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters here. “Please keep the promise you made. Please dismantle infrastructure (of terrorists), arrest them," Mukherjee said while reminding Pakistan of its Jan 6, 2004 pledge not to allow its territory to be used for terror attacks against India.

"We are talking to them that you (they) should share information with us, and on the basis of information given to you (Pakistan), please act," Mukherjee said, adding that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was planning to talk to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari over the Mumbai attacks.

Pakistan was quick to react. “Do not be jingoistic. Understand the sentiments behind it. Understand that there are innocent people affected by it,” Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told reporters in Ajmer when asked about Mukherjee's remarks. “We are fighting the same issue. We are facing the common enemy. Do not bring politics in to it," Qureshi maintained. “This is a collective issue. We have to join hands (to fight terorism),” Qureshi stressed.

Condemning the Mumbai terror strikes, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari Friday underlined that terrorism is a global phenomenon that requires joint action and offered assistance to India in investigating the incident. In Islamabad, Zardari told Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Luo Zhaohui and French ambassador Daniel Jouanneau that terrorism is an international phenomena and underscored the need of joint efforts to overcome challenges, according to Pakistan's Online news agency.

Condemning the Mumbai attacks, Zardari told the envoys that they proved that it was not just Pakistan but the whole world that was facing the menace of terrorism and extremism. Terrorism was a matter of global concern, he said, underlining the need for tackling terrorism on the political, economic and military fronts simultaneously to bring peace and stability to the region.

In his address to the nation Thursday, Manmohan Singh said the terrorists who attacked Mumbai were "based outside the country" and warned that India will no more allow militants to stage attacks with impunity.

Captured terrorist a Pakistani: Patil
Mumbai, November 28, 2008 (IANS)

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil said Friday that the only terrorist caught in Mumbai's terror saga was a Pakistani citizen. “He is a Pakistani,” Patil told reporters, announcing the end of commando operations at the Oberoi Trident hotel, one of the landmarks that terrorists took over since Wednesday night. Patil said two terrorists had been killed at the Oberoi hotel and a large amount of arms and ammunition had been seized. “Even the Taj (hotel) operation is at the last stage, it will end soon,” Patil said, referring to the hotel near the Gateway of India monument.

Patil announced that Maharashtra would set up an anti-terrorist body akin to the National Security Guard (NSG) in view of the weak coastal security in the state. Patil put the number of policemen killed in the anti-terrorist operations at 15 and said a total of 370 people have been injured. Nine terrorists too have been killed and one captured, he added. A member of the NSG has also been killed, he said.

He said the Mumbai Police had evidence to prove who was involved in the terrorist strike. “We will give details only after full investigation.”