Mumbai: Visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Saturday said that Pakistan must dismantle the terrorist infrastructure on its soil, which is aimed at India. Addressing a press conference here after interactions with staff of the terror-hit Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and captains of Indian industry, Clinton, who is on a five-day official visit to India, said India and the United States are working together to defeat the menace of terrorism, and the common aim of the two countries was to leave a better world for "our children". While stating that India has had a deep impact on her thoughts and actions when it comes to world issues, Clinton said that terrorism was a real and active threat that was "fruitless, ballistic and must be stopped." "The bombings in Indonesia (on Friday) are a reminder that terror is active. Countries need to ensure that terror is not sponsored from their soil. Our government is committed to fight against terror. Let us rid the world of hate and extremism. The United States supports India in its fight against terror," said Clinton at the press conference. She further added that the Americans had stood solidly behind the victims of the 26/11 attack.

     When asked to comment about the latest round of talks between India and Pakistan in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, Clinton described it as encouraging and was hopeful of a dialogue between the two South Asian neighbours resuming soon. However, she said that it was not her brief to comment on what the Indian leadership is doing vis-a-vis its interactions with Islamabad on bilateral issues, and added that Washington is confident about both New Delhi and Islamabad taking the right initiatives from time to time, but had no direct role to play in the negotiations. The apparently clear and direct reference to Pakistan came as the Pakistan Government filed a chargesheet against five 26/11 prime accused. They included the names of Zakir-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and JuD leader Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. Reports said that the names of all of the accused figure in the chargesheet. It is the first time that Pakistan has given a clear and written admission of terrorists from Pakistan having a role to play in the 26/11 attacks. Prior to the filing of the chargesheet, Islamabad confirmed that it has handed over a fresh 36-page dossier to India that indicates that the Lashkar-e-Toiba carried out the Mumbai attacks, terming Lashkar operations chief Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi as the "mastermind" and admitting the Pakistan nationality of Ajmal Amir Kasab along with some others is said to have prompted India to be more accommodating with Pakistan at Sharm-el-Sheikh.
-July 18, 2009