US wants Pak to show results on 26/11 prosecution

Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Washington, the United States on Wednesday pressed Pakistan to act against perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks, including Jamaat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, saying it wants to see results.

Describing the Lashkar-e-Tayiba as a global threat, US ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer said Pakistan should recognise the dangers and dismantle the terror infrastructure existing on its soil.

Situation in Pakistan, the Mumbai attacks and cooperation in counter-terrorism will be high on the agenda of Singh's meeting with US President Barack Obama in Washington on November 24, amid the US' keenness to work 'hand-in-hand, shoulder-to-shoulder' with India in preventing terror strikes.

The two leaders will also discuss implementation of the historic civil nuclear agreement, regarding which a few issues like liabilities, licensing and reprocessing, remain to be sorted out.

Climate change, education and poverty-alleviation would also be among the issues of discussion of the Singh-Obama meeting during which the two sides are expected to unveil a 'new relationship based on strategic global partnership' and chalk out path of cooperation for meeting global challenges.

"The seven Mumbai suspects should be brought to justice in Pakistan... We need to see action and results from our partners in Pakistan," Roemer told mediapersons, adding even Saeed should be brought to justice.

The US ambassador said this message has been resolutely communicated to Pakistan by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and National Security Adviser James Jones during their visits to Pakistan recently.

Roemer was replying when pointed out that the trial in the 26/11 case continues to be delayed in Pakistan even as the first anniversary of the attacks is approaching.

He said Pakistan needs to see the danger posed to itself from groups like Lashkar-e-Tayiba, which has 'evolved from regional threat to global terror group,' and 'concentrate' on dismantling terror infrastructure.

Crackdown by Pakistan on terror groups on its soil will have an effect on action in Afghanistan, he said, while pointing out that situation in these countries would figure in the talks between Singh and Obama.

He evaded a direct reply to a question on India's concerns with regard to diversion by Pakistan of American funds meant for fighting terrorism but said the US would soon announce a new policy on Afghanistan that will be a combination of defence, diplomacy and developmental issues.

Roemer said the US and India would work together to protect their citizens from terrorism. This will entail exchange in information and technologies.