The Hindu Business Line : Pak should take direct and tough action: Rice

New Delhi, Dec 3 The US Secretary of State Ms Condoleezza Rice today said that Pakistan has a special responsibility in ensuring that the perpetrators of the terrorist strikes in Mumbai last week are brought to justice, says Condoleezza Rice.

Addressing a joint press conference here today with the Defence Minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee, Ms Rice said that Pakistan needs to take “direct and tough action” against the terrorists.

State responsibility

Even if non-State forces are carrying out terrorism-related activities without the involvement of the State establishment but still if such things happen within the State boundary it is the responsibility of the State, she said.

Sharing info

She also pointed out the need for information gathering and sharing to counter terrorism.

“Governments will need to make certain that they are doing every thing to garner information so that they prevent further attacks,” she said.

Highlighting the necessity of sharing counter terrorism information among countries Defence Minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee said that such a mechanism already exist which will assume much more significance now.

Pattern seen

Mr Mukherjee said the terrorists strike in various important cities like Jaipur, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Delhi and now in Mumbai clearly show that there is a pattern behind that attacks.

He said that India’s action on Pakistan will depend on what response it gets from Pakistan.

“Our action about Pakistan will depend on what response we get from them. We have asked for their response and are waiting for it.”

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