The United States on Friday said Pakistan should ensure swift and lengthy punishment to those behind 26/11 even as reports came in of Islamabad registering two cases against Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed.
Washington's view was articulated by Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer, who called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P. Chidambaram here.
“Swift and lengthy punishment for six suspects of the Mumbai attacks in Pakistan is important for the U.S. and India,” Mr. Roemer told journalists in North Block after a meeting with Mr. Chidambaram.
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With the Prime Minister, he discussed Dr. Singh's planned visits to the U.S., apart from a broad range of bilateral and global issues.
An American Embassy release said Mr. Roemer conveyed President Barack Obama's warm greetings and anticipation to meet Dr. Singh in Pittsburgh at the G-20 meeting and during the bilateral visit to Washington in November.“
The upcoming official state visit, the first by a foreign leader during the Obama Administration, is a testament to the vital importance of the U.S.-India strategic partnership in addressing our greatest global challenges,” Mr. Roemer said in the statement.
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Earlier, he said that going after Hafiz Saeed and dismantling the terror infrastructure in that region were extremely important for both Washington and New Delhi.
Meeting with Chidambaram According to the statement, the meeting with Mr. Chidambaram was to review the important steps India and the U.S. will pursue following his successful working visit to the U.S.
Mr. Chidambaram met a full range of senior officials in New York and Washington to discuss America's homeland security initiatives following the 9/11 attacks as well as future initiatives for security and counter-terrorism cooperation between the two countries.
Mr. Roemer's remarks came ahead of a scheduled meeting between the Foreign Ministers and the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan in New York, on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly session, to discuss the status of investigation by Islamabad in the 26/11 case.