India casts asides Boucher's 7/11 remarks

Boucher had asked India to give evidence of Pakistan's involvement in the 7/11 Mumbai blasts.

Declining to get drawn into remarks by US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher that India should come up with evidence on Mumbai train blasts, India said on Wednesday the group of eight most developed countries, which includes America, recognises India's concerns with regard to terrorism.

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"The US was part of the St Petersburg (G-8) statement. If you see any inherent contradiction in any statements coming out of that (US) government, you have to address that government," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters.

He was responding to a question on Boucher's remarks in Washington on Tuesday that " I think we need to be led by the evidence before we start trying to draw conclusions and make policy pronouncements on it (Mumbai blasts). So that will be our attitude, and I think that should be the attitude of others as well."

Boucher was commenting on India's suspicions that there was a Pakistani hand in Mumbai blasts.

Refusing to comment on Boucher's remarks, Sarna said "for us, we see the G-8 statement as a very positive statement which recognises India's terrorism concerns."

He said it is "a strong statement" which lays out the views of the G-8 countries and other nations on Mumbai blasts and related issues.

The G-8 statement had condemned terrorist acts taking place anywhere and vowed to take steps against those abetting and instigating such crimes.