The United States has become active to avert any kind of confrontation between Pakistan and India following the deadly terrorist attacks in Mumbai and the Bush administration has rushed to take up the issue with the governments of the two countries.
Informed sources told Business Recorder that the US was using its offices to avert any kind of confrontation in South Asia and in that context US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice called President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday.
According to sources, Washington is of the view that international coalition against terrorism cannot afford any kind of unrest in the region. This would badly affect the ongoing war on terror in different parts of Pakistan. US President Bush has also called Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Sing and asked him to exercise a constraint in expressing any aggressive posture to Pakistan following the deadly attacks.
Immediately after the blasts and gunfire in Mumbai, the senior officials of Bush administration and US intelligence apparatus held detailed meetings and discussed the matter in detail. The sources said that there was almost a consensus that these attacks could deteriorate the composite dialogue process besides escalating tension between the two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbouring countries.
Apart from US, UK is also keen that Pakistan and India continue their composite dialogue process and should not make themselves hostage to terrorists. Rice also discussed with the President on Pakistan-US bilateral relations, regional situation and the ongoing military operations in federally administered tribal areas (Fata) and Swat.
Meanwhile, the ambassadors of China and France called on President Asif Ali Zardari. According to foreign office statement President Zardari discussed Pakistan's bilateral relations with the two diplomats. But according to the sources, China and France envoys discussed the situation arising out of blasts and gunfire in Mumbai.
President Zardari, according to the sources, expressed Pakistan's readiness to cooperate with India in probing the terrorist attacks and said that Pakistan itself has been the victim of terrorism. "Both the countries are facing almost the same situation and the two countries could go a long way if they cooperate with each other to tackle the menace of terrorism," sources added.
Meanwhile, condemning the deadly terrorist attacks in Mumbai, Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar said that Pakistan had no role in the terrorist attacks. Referring to an assertion made by Indian army general, he said that it was very unfortunate that India always blamed Pakistan for such activities. "In previous cases they have acted like this, but later it all proved wrong," Mukhtar told a foreign news agency. "We are very much positive that Pakistan is not involved in this," he maintained.