Zardari tells Sri Lanka of progress in probe
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday told Sri Lanka's foreign minister inquiries to find those who attacked the country's cricket team was making progress.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday told Sri Lanka's foreign minister inquiries to find those who attacked the country's cricket team was making progress.
Six Pakistani police and two civilians were killed in Tuesday's assault on the team, who were en route to a Test match in the city of Lahore. Seven Sri Lankan cricketers and a coach were among 19 wounded.
"Progress has been made in the investigation and the perpetrators will be exposed and brought to justice," an official statement quoted Zardari as telling Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama in Islamabad.
It said Zardari warned that terrorists would be caught and dealt with "with iron hands".
"The incident was a serious setback that had also undermined the sport of cricket in Pakistan," it quoted the president as admitting.
Zardari underscored the need to "jointly devise a mechanism for promotion of peace, development and progress" across the region.
He suggested that the two countries hold "a workshop to learn from each other's experiences in fighting terrorism".
Zardari welcomed a statement from the Sri Lankan government that the incident would not strain relations between the two countries.
The attack is likely to have brought an end to international cricket in Pakistan for now and has heightened concerns that radical Islamists linked to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban are extending their ability to strike targets across the nation.