India has put in a formal request to the UN Security Council seeking a ban on the Jamaat-ud-Dawah, suspected to be involved in the Mumbai terror attacks, and Pakistan promptly promised to do so if the Council decides to proscribe the group as a terrorist outfit.

Describing the terror groups like Lashkar-e-Tayiba and its front organisation JUD as 'merchants of terror', Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed said time has come eliminate such outfits.

He said by unleashing terror attacks in Mumbai, these groups had brought about a 'qualitatively new and dangerous escalation of terrorism'.

"India has had experience of such machines which need to be eliminated," Ahamed said, adding that the nexus between State -- or elements within the State -- and terror outfits must be broken and groups or individuals that indoctrinate, organise, plan and finance terror have to be uprooted along with other measures."

Pakistan Ambassador to the UN Abdullah Hussain Haroon on Wednesday handed out an assurance to the Council that Islamabad [Images] would proscribe the Jamaat-ud-Dawah and freeze its assets on the request of the UNSC.

Islamabad has also assured the world body that all training camps of Lashkar-e-Tayiba or any entity of this nature would not be allowed on its territory.

Earlier, Ahamed said: "All those who were in any way responsible for the Mumbai terror attacks [Images], wherever they may be should be brought to justice."

He said the JUD and other such groups 'need to be proscribed internationally and effective sanctions impose against them'.

India also demanded that the country of the origin of terrorists who carried out the Mumbai carnage needs to take urgent steps to stop their functioning.

Pakistan's undertaking was given by Haroon and came after India had sent a formal request to the Council to put sanctions on JUD and its leaders.

Addressing the Council during a debate on terrorism, where the Mumbai carnage was in focus, Haroon said that moves would be set into motion to freeze assets of the JUD, if the Council puts sanctions on the outfit.

"After the designation of Jamat-ud-Dawah under (resolution) 1267, the Government on receiving communication from the Security Council shall proscribe the JUD and take other consequential actions, as required, including the freezing of assets," he said.

He told the Council that Pakistani authorities had already initiated investigations on its own pertaining to allegations of involvement of its citizens and entities in the Mumbai attacks.

Ahamed had told the Council that India would act to 'safeguard and protect' its people from such heinous attacks, howsoever long or difficult task that may be.

New Delhi [Images], he said, has acted with restraint in the face of international terrorist attacks.

But 'we must do our duty by our people and take all actions as we deem fit to defend and protect them', he said, adding that the Charter of the United Nations and provisions of international law, including the right of self-defence, gives it the framework to fulfil these responsibilities.

"Our people ask the international community to determinedly pursue and eliminate terrorist organisations. The world needs to act decisively and in a coordinated manner to prevent further attacks," he added.

Image: E Ahamed delivers his speech at the United Nations. 
Photograph: Jay Mandal/On Assignment