Will ensure 26/11 perpetrators are punished: US

The United States on Thursday said it will make sure that justice is delivered to the perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and that it has conveyed the same to Pakistan government.

Briefing media persons about his trip to Pakistan on Tuesday, US Ambassador Timothy J Roemer said he met President Asif Ali Zardari and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and discussed a host of regional and international issues, including 26/11 trial and role of India in Afghanistan.

He said he talked to Pakistani leaders about "continued success to prosecute the Mumbai suspects. I have said this is not something I come to represent Delhi portfolio but an American portfolio. We lost six Americans in 26/11 attacks and America also wants to make sure that justice is delivered."

Roemer described the conversation as "very productive and helpful."

During his meetings with Pakistani leadership, the US ambassador also underlined the "critical role" India was playing in Afghanistan. Before going to Pakistan, Roemer paid a day-long visit to Afghanistan where he met Indian Ambassador Jayant Prasad.

Impressed by India's developmental activities in building a strong and stable Afghanistan, the US is also in the process of identifying projects to partner with India, he said.

While Pakistan has repeatedly asked the US to reduce Indian involvement in Afghanistan, Roemer told Zardari and Qureshi that the Obama administration considered the Indian role in the war-torn country as critical and looked forward to maintaining its partnership with India there.

On the response of Pakistan to the US' views, Roemer said it was "thoughtful and considered" and "hopefully positive in long-term."