WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama led a strong American condemnation of yet another terrorist attack on India's financial capital Mumbai, saying “India is a close friend and partner of the United States” and “we will offer support to India's efforts to bring the perpetrators of these terrible crimes to justice.”
In a White House statement hours after the triple blasts that killed more than 20 people, Obama recalled his trip to Mumbai last November when, he said, “I saw firsthand the strength and resilience of the Indian people, and I have no doubt that the India will overcome these deplorable terrorist attacks.”
“I strongly condemn the outrageous attacks in Mumbai, and my thoughts and prayers are with the wounded and those who have lost loved ones. The US government continues to monitor the situation, including the safety and security of our citizens,” Obama said.
The Obama statement comes even as the Ahmed Shuja Pasha, chief of Pakistan's spy agency ISI, alleged to have masterminded the last major terrorist attack on Mumbai on 26/11 and informally regarded by the US government as a terrorism sponsor, arrived in Washington DC for talks. The Pakistani military and intelligence establishment is now accused of murdering its own citizens in addition to backing terrorist groups and their attacks on India
and Afghanistan, depredations which US administrations are only now starting to recognize.
At a State Department briefing, the finger of suspicion – from the US media – went straightaway went towards Pakistan with one journalist asking “given the allegations of Pakistani involvement in the Mumbai attacks of 2008, do you have any reason to suspect that there may be Pakistani official or unofficial involvement in these bombings?”
“It's far too early to speculate. The Indian government will no doubt begin an investigation of the incident, and we'll wait for their results,” spokesman Mark Toner responded cautiously, adding, “we stand ready to cooperate with them.”
Toner said he was not aware of any connection or warning in the attack linking it to secretary of state Hillary Clinton's scheduled visit to India next week and saw no change in her schedule. Clinton is slated to visit New Delhi and Chennai; Mumbai is not on her schedule.
There was outrage also on the Hill, where there is growing disquiet about Pakistan's reluctance to act against terrorist networks it has fostered for long. Some lawmakers are implying that as long as Pakistan refuses to crack down on and prosecute terrorist outfits it is supporting, it will always come under suspicion for terror attacks regardless of direct involvement.
Obama hints tough action against pirates
US President Barack Obama has said that his country is committed to “halt the rise of piracy” off Somalia coast and vowed to work with international community to bring the menace to an end.
“I want to be very clear that we are resolved to halt the rise of piracy in that region,” Obama said in his first public comment on the issue on Monday.
“To achieve that goal we’re going to have to continue to work with our partners to prevent future attacks,” Obama said in his remarks held at the US Department of Transportation.
His remarks were his first in public on the rescue of Maersk Alabama cargo ship’s American Captain Richard Phillips, held hostage aboard a lifeboat off Somalia’s coast in a harrowing five-day standoff.
Obama, who authorised the Navy snipers to take a shot at the pirates, if the life of the captain was in danger, said: “We have to continue to be prepared to confront them when they arise, and we have to ensure that those who commit acts of piracy are held accountable for their crimes.”
Later his spokesman Robert Gibbs said the President is concerned about the safety and security of people in that area in view of increase in piracy incidents off the coast of Somalia.
“The President and this Administration are certainly focused on ensuring that we are doing all that we can in conjunction with our international partners and allies, to coordinate and communicate effectively to ensure the safety of Americans as well as others that are using this area for shipping,” he said.
“I think also what has to happen is we do have to evaluate and be prepared to take stronger action interdicting acts of piracy. Another thing is to encourage greater efforts to bring individuals and groups suspected of these type of acts, to bring those to justice,” Gibbs said in response to a question.
Terming it as one of the extremely dangerous regions of the world, Gibbs said, “We, in coordination with our international partners, have to take steps to control. These are areas that — and this is true for many ungoverned spaces — is that you breed very bad people that want to do very bad things.”
The spokesman said the pirates are indulging in criminal activities. “I think that whether or not — whatever label you put on them, there was a lawlessness, pervasive lawlessness that threatened the life of an American.
The President and this administration, working with some very brave men and women in the military, acted accordingly,” he said.