Extremists common enemy of India, Pakistan: US

Washington, Jan 7 (PTI) Maintaining that India and Pakistan face the greatest threat from "violent extremists" and not from each other, the US has said it is in the interest of both countries to work together to bring perpetrators to justice and prevent future strikes.

Pointing out that the origins of Mumbai terrorist attack
were in Pakistan, the US said the exchange of information
between Islamabad and New Delhi on the issue was
"encouraging".

"Well, we've talked about, we've talked about the origins
of the attack coming from Pakistani soil. Secretary Rice
during her visit to the region said that herself," State
Department Spokesperson Sean McCormack said at his briefing.

"The greatest threat isn't from each other, whether that
be India or Pakistan; it's from the violent extremists," he
said.

Observing that the common enemy are the extremists,
McCormack said, "it's in their interest to work together, to
exchange information, to get the full picture, and to be able
to act to prevent attacks, as well as to bring to justice
those responsible for the attacks in Mumbai".

McCormack said the escalating tension between the two
South Asian neighbors need to be managed, "and thus far it
would seem that the two sides have an interest in doing that."

"Exchange of information between India and Pakistan is
encouraging," he added.

Referring to the ongoing visit of the Assistant Secretary
of State Richard Boucher to the region, McCormack said he "put
it very well in saying that each side, in terms of putting
together the full picture here, has pieces of the puzzle".

India has handed over to Pakistan "concrete" evidence
about involvement of elements based in that country in the
Mumbai terror attacks. PTI LKJ