Pak should pursue leads given by India on Mumbai attacks: US

Islamabad, Jan 6 (PTI) Maintaining that the Mumbai
attackers had links "that lead to Pakistani soil," the US has
asked Islamabad to pursue leads provided by New Delhi and
track down the perpetrators of the deadly terror strikes.

It was "clear that the attackers had links that lead to
Pakistani soil," visiting Assistant Secretary of State Richard
Boucher told reporters Monday.

Boucher, whose arrival here coincided with India handing
over evidence about the terrorist attacks to Pakistan, said
the US wants Islamabad to investigate the information provided
by New Delhi, follow available leads and track down
perpetrators so that similar attacks do not occur in future.

India and Pakistan both had "pieces of the puzzle" and
need to cooperate, Boucher told the news conference at the US
embassy here after talks with the country's top leadership.

"The two sides need to exchange information," he said,
adding that India and Pakistan need to work together as this
alone will ensure that the perpetrators of the attacks are
tracked down.

The US had a "direct interest" in the probe as six of its
citizens were killed in the Mumbai attacks, he said, adding,
"We are interested that those responsible must be found".

The "scene of the crime" is in India and authorities
there have made some arrests. At the same time, Pakistan had
detained persons involved in the planning and execution of the
attacks, he said. Both sides will now have to follow up on the
available information, Boucher said.

Asked whether the US believed Pakistan's state
institutions, including the ISI, was linked to the strikes,
Boucher said: "Let us find out from the evidence (handed over
by India) who was involved in these attacks" and "not jump to
conclusions". PTI