Putting Pakistan on notice, the US has asked it to act together with all "interested parties" to prevent "future terrorist attacks" emanating from its soil and asserted that it will "closely" follow the steps being taken by Islamabad following the Mumbai terror strikes.
The comments by State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack came yesterday after Pakistani security forces arrested key Lashker-e-Toiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhwi, suspected to be the mastermind of the Mumbai attacks, along with 20 others.
"I think what we're seeing are some positive steps (from Pakistan). It's also incumbent upon the Pakistani government to act to prevent any future terrorist attacks, to break up those networks that may be responsible for perpetrating acts of violent extremism," he said in a briefing.
"Let the Pakistan government describe for the public exactly what steps they're taking and what it is that they've done. We're going to be follow that situation very closely," the spokesman said when asked what specific measures would the US expect Islamabad to take. "What we don't want to see are future attacks emanating from Pakistani soil. And we would urge cooperation among all interested parties to make sure that that doesn't happen."
McCormack said Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari called up US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to brief her on the actions taken by Islamabad against terror elements.
"Secretary Rice had earlier on her trips to India and Pakistan said that what's important is that those responsible for Mumbai attacks be brought to justice, that they not be allowed to in any way plan further or participate further in any violent actions, any terrorist actions."
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