Pak needs to bring Mumbai attack culprits to justice

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Jul 23 (PTI) The US has said it is
important for Pakistan to investigate the Mumbai terror attack
and bring to justice those responsible for it for its own and
the entire region's benefit.
State Department spokesman P J Crowley told reporters
at his daily news briefing that the US would continue to
discuss with Pakistan the need to probe the 26/11 carnage that
killed 166 people.
"There are things, clearly, that Pakistan must do.
Certainly, continuing to investigate and bring to justice
those who are responsible for the Mumbai attack is an
important element," Crowley said.
India has blamed Pakistan-based terror outfit
Lashkar-e-Taiba for masterminding the attack, and the lone
Pakistani gunman captured alive following the raid has been
awarded a death sentence by an Indian court.
A trial is also on against seven suspects, including
LeT operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, in Pakistan but
India has said Islamabad should do more to bring the
masterminds to book.
"It's important to Pakistan. It's also important to
India. And we will continue our conversations with Pakistan on
the things that it needs to do not only for the benefit of
Pakistan but the region as a whole," Crowley said.
The spokesperson said the US policy is to fully
cooperate with Pakistan on terrorism and to continue to work
closely to help Pakistan battle the insurgency that now is a
threat to Pakistan itself.
"We've seen significant progress by Pakistan over the
past year. It's an area that was part of the Strategic
Dialogue that our governments just had in Islamabad," he said.
PTI