Mumbai attack probe a 'must do' thing for Pak: US

WASHINGTON: The US wants Pakistan to continue to investigate the Mumbai terror attack and bring to justice those responsible for the carnage, saying these are "must do" things for that country for the benefit of the region as a whole.

State Department spokesman P J Crowley told reporters at his daily news briefing yesterday that the US would continue to discuss with Pakistan the need to probe the November 2008 attack that killed 166 people.

"There are things, clearly, that Pakistan must do. Certainly, continuing to investigate and bring to justice those who are responsible for the Mumbai attack is an important element," Crowley said.

"It's important to Pakistan. It's also important to India. And we will continue our conversations with Pakistan on the things that it needs to do not only for the benefit of Pakistan but the region as a whole," he said.

The spokesperson said the US policy is to fully cooperate with Pakistan on terrorism and to continue to work closely to help Pakistan battle the insurgency that now is a threat to Pakistan itself.

"We've seen significant progress by Pakistan over the past year. It's an area that was part of the Strategic Dialogue that our governments just had in Islamabad," he said.

India has blamed Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba for masterminding the attack, and the lone Pakistani gunman captured alive following the raid has been awarded a death sentence by a court.

A trial is also on against seven suspects, including LeT operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, in Pakistan but India has said Islamabad should do more to bring the masterminds to book.