Pakistan territory used
for Mumbai attacks; US seeks action against 'non-state' actors
By Arun Kumar
Washington,
Dec 8 (IANS) With evidence that the terrorists did use Pakistan
territory to stage Mumbai terror attacks, US Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice has told Islamabad that "non-state
actors" acting from its territory are still its responsibility.
"I
think there's no doubt that Pakistani territory was used by
probably non-state actors," she said in interviews with
US television networks Sunday though she did not "think
that there is compelling evidence of involvement of Pakistani
officials."
"But
I do think that Pakistan has a responsibility to act, and
it doesn't matter that they're non-state actors," she
told CNN.
With
Islamabad's ties with Washington as well as with India at
stake, Pakistan must take action against the militants, Rice
said. "The key here is that this investigation needs
to go forward. It needs to be transparent," she added.
Asked
to clarify her use of the he word "probably," Rice
said: "I think that the evidence is that the terrorists
did use territory in Pakistan."
But
she declined to say whether the terrorists trained in Pakistan
or if they had any cooperation or if she believed that the
Pakistan based terror group Lashkar e-Tayyiba was responsible
for the Mumbai assault.
"I
don't want to go into too much detail here because, obviously,
in counter-terrorism no one wants to tip the hand of what
has happened here and what may happen in the future,"
Rice said.
Asked
about the relationship between Lashkar e-Tayyiba and the Pakistani
government or its intelligence or military services, Rice
said: "Well, there have been historic ties. There's no
doubt about that.
"But
Pakistan is a different place now with a civilian government
and an army leadership that is working in concert to try to
bring an end to extremism within Pakistan. We have to remember
that Pakistan itself has been suffering at the hands of extremism,"
she said.
"So
whatever the history here, and there is a history, the important
thing is that Pakistan act against those who used Pakistani
soil to perpetrate attacks, Rice said.
She
made the same point on ABC saying: "I did say to the
Pakistanis that the argument that these are non-state actors
is not acceptable. In fact, non-state actors acting from your
territory are still your responsibility."
Asked
to comment on a US media report that she had asked Pakistan
to turn over and arrest the former head of Pakistani intelligence,
Lt Gen Hamid Gul, Rice parried: "Well, I don't want to
get too detailed about this.
"This
is counter-terrorism work, and, obviously, I don't want to
tip their hand or ours. But this is a time when Pakistan must
act. They must act in concert with India, with the United
States. Great Britain is helping.
Asked
if India has the same right that the US believes it has to
take action against threats on foreign soil, Rice avoided
a direct answer. "There is no doubt that the Indian government,
the Indian people are outraged. They feel
vulnerable. And they expect, as we do, Pakistan to act.
"But
when it comes to something like this, it is important not
to take steps that will make a situation worse."
"In
fact, it felt a little bit to me like the United States post-9/11.
I certainly understand that. But in this case, there are actions
that India could take that could make the situation worse,
and we don't need a crisis in South Asia."
Asked
if Pakistan agreed to a 48-hour timetable to take action as
reported by the Washington Post, Rice told Fox News: "There's
not a timetable involved here. Obviously, this is counter-terrorism
work. It's hard work."
"And
it's not as if these people are sitting on the surface. But
Pakistan, the leaders in Pakistan, were very clear with me
that they understood their responsibilities. And now we're
waiting. We expect things to happen," she added.
Rice
said she had made it very clear to Pakistan "that Americans
also died in that attack, and that the United States expects
the full and complete cooperation of Pakistan and Pakistani
action; and that yes, it is a matter for our relationship."
Indo-Asian
News Service
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