Pranab Mukherjee: I have just concluded discussions with H.E. Dr. Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Secretary of State. She has specifically come to express the solidarity of the United States of America with India in the wake of the heinous attacks by terrorists who struck in several locations in Mumbai last week. We greatly appreciate this gesture.
I informed Dr. Rice that there is no doubt that the terrorist attacks in Mumbaiwere perpetrated by individuals who came from Pakistan and whose controllers arein Pakistan. This is an assessment that is widely shared by the internationalcommunity.
I briefed Dr. Rice on the discussions we have had with the Government ofPakistan following the Mumbai terrorist attacks and our expectations ofcooperation from them to ensure that the terrorists and organizations whoperpetrated these attacks are arrested and brought to justice. We expect allfriendly governments and the international community to ensure that thishappens.
I have also conveyed to Secretary Rice the feeling of anger and deep outrage inIndia following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai which were preceded by similarterrorist attacks in other cities in India earlier this year in Jaipur,Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Delhi and now Mumbai. Almost 350 innocent lives havebeen lost in these attacks and more than 733 people injured. Government of Indiais determined to act decisively to protect India’s territorial integrity andthe right of our citizens to a peaceful life with all the means at our disposal.
We look forward to the international community’s cooperation in ourlongstanding struggle against terrorism.
I would now like to invite Secretary Rice to make her observations.