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Rice visits India to ease tension US seeks urgent action on Mumbai
(40 minutes later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has arrived in India hoping to ease tensions between India and Pakistan after last week's attacks in Mumbai. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said India, Pakistan and others must act with "urgency and resolve" to bring the Mumbai attackers to justice.
She is to meet India's prime minister and foreign minister. No plans have been announced for a visit to Pakistan. "This is especially a time for Pakistan to do so," she told reporters in Delhi, ahead of talks with Indian leaders.
US officials have said India was warned of a possible threat a month before the attacks, which left almost 200 dead. Ms Rice is in India to ease tensions between India and Pakistan after last week's attacks which killed nearly 200.
The US national intelligence director has also implied that Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Toiba was responsible. India says the attackers had Pakistani links. Islamabad denies any role and has offered to help the investigation.
Islamabad has denied Indian allegations that the attackers had Pakistani links. US officials have said India was warned of a possible threat a month before the attacks. The US national intelligence director also implied Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Toiba was responsible.
Meanwhile, political leaders in Pakistan joined to condemn the attacks but rejected what they called "hasty allegations" made against Pakistan.Meanwhile, political leaders in Pakistan joined to condemn the attacks but rejected what they called "hasty allegations" made against Pakistan.
Last week's attacks at multiple locations in Indian's financial capital stunned the country, with many describing it as India's 9/11.Last week's attacks at multiple locations in Indian's financial capital stunned the country, with many describing it as India's 9/11.
'Horrible attack''Horrible attack'
"I want to consult with the Indian government on what we can do to help," AFP news agency quoted Ms Rice as saying ahead of the visit. "This is the time for everybody to co-operate and do so transparently," Ms Rice told a news conference at the US embassy in Delhi.
"I am going to, of course, express solidarity with the Indian people. This was a horrible attack," she said. "I have said that Pakistan needs to act with resolve and urgency and cooperate fully and transparently. That message has been delivered and will be delivered to Pakistan."
LASHKAR-E-TOIBA Jihadi organisation based in PakistanFormed towards the end of the Afghan war against the SovietsBlamed for hundreds of attacks in the region since 1990Listed as a "terrorist group" by the US and UK Profile: Lashkar-e-ToibaA Pakistan militant link?Sir Mark Tully on MumbaiPakistan parties unite in responseLASHKAR-E-TOIBA Jihadi organisation based in PakistanFormed towards the end of the Afghan war against the SovietsBlamed for hundreds of attacks in the region since 1990Listed as a "terrorist group" by the US and UK Profile: Lashkar-e-ToibaA Pakistan militant link?Sir Mark Tully on MumbaiPakistan parties unite in response
It is not clear if Ms Rice will visit Mumbai. Six Americans died in the attacks. Ms Rice is to meet India's prime minister and foreign minister. No plans have been announced for a visit to Pakistan.
It is also not clear whether Ms Rice will visit Mumbai. Six Americans died in the attacks.
A senior state department official said Ms Rice would put pressure on the two neighbours to co-operate to fight terrorism.A senior state department official said Ms Rice would put pressure on the two neighbours to co-operate to fight terrorism.
She has urged India and Pakistan to remain in contact and work together to find those behind the attack.She has urged India and Pakistan to remain in contact and work together to find those behind the attack.
On Tuesday, a US official told the Associated Press that the Indian authorities had been told of an apparent plot to launch an attack on Mumbai from the sea.On Tuesday, a US official told the Associated Press that the Indian authorities had been told of an apparent plot to launch an attack on Mumbai from the sea.
Mumbai police chief Hassan Gafoor later appeared to confirm the report by saying that there had been a known threat to at least some of the locations targeted, including the Taj Mahal Palace hotel.Mumbai police chief Hassan Gafoor later appeared to confirm the report by saying that there had been a known threat to at least some of the locations targeted, including the Taj Mahal Palace hotel.
Security authorities had "had an alert that hotels like Taj could be exposed to such danger", he told a news conference.Security authorities had "had an alert that hotels like Taj could be exposed to such danger", he told a news conference.
Anger is growing in India that the attacks were not prevented
ABC News also quoted Indian officials as saying that after receiving the US warning, they also intercepted a satellite phone message on 18 November warning of a seaborne attack on Mumbai.ABC News also quoted Indian officials as saying that after receiving the US warning, they also intercepted a satellite phone message on 18 November warning of a seaborne attack on Mumbai.
The city had been on high alert, but security measures at the targeted hotels had recently been relaxed, the US television network said.The city had been on high alert, but security measures at the targeted hotels had recently been relaxed, the US television network said.
ABC also reported that the Indian authorities had seized a mobile phone SIM card belonging to the attackers, which they said had led to a "treasure trove" of contacts and information.
Anger is growing in India that the attacks were not prevented
One of the gunmen, named as Azam Amir Qasab, survived and is in police custody. Police have said he is "certainly" from Pakistan.One of the gunmen, named as Azam Amir Qasab, survived and is in police custody. Police have said he is "certainly" from Pakistan.
The Indian media have said he is linked to the militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba, but the group has denied responsibility. The Indian media have said he is linked to Lashkar-e-Toiba, but the group has denied responsibility.
Although he did not mention Lashkar-e-Toiba by name, the US Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell, suggested that the group that carried out the Mumbai attacks had also been behind train blasts in the city in July 2006 that killed 186 people. Although he did not mention Lashkar-e-Toiba by name, US Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell, suggested that the group that carried out the Mumbai attacks had also been behind train blasts in the city in July 2006 that killed 186 people.
"The same group that we believe is responsible for Mumbai had a similar attack in 2006 attack on a train and killed a similar number of people," Mr McConnell said in a speech at Harvard University. Lashkar-e-Toiba was blamed by the Indian government for those bombings, along with the Students' Islamic Movement of India (Simi).
Lashkar-e-Toiba was blamed by the Indian government for the 2006 train bombings, along with the Students' Islamic Movement of India (Simi). Fugitives
A resolution signed by several political parties in Pakistan said that they shared India's grief after the Mumbai attacks and abhorred violence against innocent people.A resolution signed by several political parties in Pakistan said that they shared India's grief after the Mumbai attacks and abhorred violence against innocent people.
But the parties also said they took strong exception to what they called "unsubstantiated allegations made in haste against Pakistan".But the parties also said they took strong exception to what they called "unsubstantiated allegations made in haste against Pakistan".
'Resolve'
Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said a military response was not under consideration but that if Pakistan did not act, the bilateral peace process would be at risk.Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said a military response was not under consideration but that if Pakistan did not act, the bilateral peace process would be at risk.
India has also asked Islamabad to hand over 20 fugitives from Indian law it believes are hiding in Pakistan.India has also asked Islamabad to hand over 20 fugitives from Indian law it believes are hiding in Pakistan.
Indian media reports say the list includes Hafiz Mohammad - a man India says is the head of Lashkar-e-Toiba.Indian media reports say the list includes Hafiz Mohammad - a man India says is the head of Lashkar-e-Toiba.
Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim (wanted in connection with bombings in Mumbai in 1993) and Muslim cleric Maulana Masood Azhar (who was freed from jail in India in exchange for passengers on a hijacked plane in 1999) are also on the list of names. Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim (wanted in connection with bombings in Mumbai in 1993) and Muslim cleric Maulana Masood Azhar (who was freed from jail in India in exchange for passengers on a hijacked plane in 1999) are also on the list.
Islamabad has not responded directly to the request but on Tuesday offered India a joint investigation into the attacks, which India has rejected. Islamabad has offered India a joint investigation into the attacks, which India has rejected.