/ 25 November 2009

US welcomes Pakistan charges over Mumbai attacks

The United States welcomed on Wednesday a Pakistani court’s decision to charge seven suspects in connection with the Mumbai attacks.

“These indictments are an important step. Pakistan has pledged it would … do what is necessary to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice,” a State Department official told Agence France-Presse on the condition of anonymity.

“That is certainly a positive step but … a lot more needs to be done to make sure these types of attacks don’t emanate anywhere from Pakistani soil,” the official added.

A Pakistani anti-terror court on Wednesday charged seven suspects in connection with the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people one year ago, a defence lawyer said.

The men were indicted at the court in a high security prison in the city of Rawalpindi on the eve of the first anniversary of India’s worst militant attacks, which dramatically soured relations with rival Pakistan.

All those in the dock pleaded not guilty to the charges.

During a high-profile visit to Washington, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Wednesday he welcomed Pakistani steps to rein in extremists after the court charged the suspects but called for more action. — AFP