Pak to send ISI chief to cooperate in investigations in Mumbai terror attacks

Islamabad, Nov 28 (PTI) Agreeing to a demand made by
Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh, Pakistan Friday
decided to depute the chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence
(ISI) Shuja Pasha to New Delhi soon to "cooperate" in the
investigations into the Mumbai terror attacks in which
Pakistani elements are suspected to be involved.

Singh had requested Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf
Raza Gilani to depute Pasha to India "to cooperate in the
investigations of the Mumbai attack and for sharing certain
certain information".

Singh also received a call from President Asif Ali
Zardari who assured him that Islamabad "will cooperate with
India in exposing and apprehending the culprits and
masterminds behind" the attacks in Mumbai.

The President told Singh "non-state actors wanted to
force upon the governments their own agenda but they must not
be allowed to succeed. We should not fall into the trap of
the militants."

Accepting the Indian Prime Minister's request,
Gilani said "the two sides will work out modalities for the
visit of the Inter Services Intelligence chief which is
expected to take place soon."

India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee
earlier in the day said in Jodhpur that "some elements" based
in Pakistan were responsible for the terror strikes in Mumbai.

Mukherjee noted that Pakistan had assured not to allow
territories under its control to be used for terrorism against
India.

Indicating involvement of Pakistani elements in the
Mumbai strikes, Singh had Thursday said India would not
tolerate use of territories of its neighbours for launch of
attacks against it and that "there would be a cost if suitable
measures are not taken by them".

This would be the first instance of a chief of
Pakistan's spy agency visiting India in connection with the
investigation of a terror attack.

Lt Gen Pasha was recently appointed chief of the ISI
by Pakistan Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

Both Zardari and Gilani condemned the attacks and
extended full support to the Indian government in jointly
combating terrorism and extremism.

Expressing shock over the the incident, Zardari told
Singh that it had opened up his own wounds as his wife, former
Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto had also fallen prey to
terrorism.

Gilani said Pakistan itself had suffered due to
terrorism and that there should be collective action against
the scourge.

The decision to send the ISI chief to India came after
Gilani met Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and apprised
him about the discussions he held with Manmohan Singh.

Zardari and Gilani met at the presidency here to
discuss the security situation in the wake of Wednesday's
terrorist attacks in Mumbai, TV channels quoted officials as
saying.

Condemning the attacks in Mumbai, the two leaders said
the blame game should be avoided. They also said Pakistan was
ready to cooperate with India in investigating the attacks,
they said.

Zardari and Gilani also reviewed the overall security
and political situation and vowed to crush militancy in
Pakistan with full force.

In an address to the nation Thursday, Indian Prime
Minister Singh said the group responsible for the attacks in
Mumbai was "based outside the country". PTI