Pak will help probe blasts if India provides info

Asserting that "stalling" of the Indo-Pak peace process over the Mumbai terror attacks would amount to playing into the hands of terrorists, President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday said Pakistan would help with the probe into the attacks if India provided "concrete information" instead of making "unsubstantiated allegations.

Referring to the "recent statements emanating from the Indian side and postponement of foreign secretary-level talks following Mumbai blasts," Musharraf told the National Security Council that "any stalling of the ongoing peace process would be unfortunate and doing so because of terrorist attacks would be tantamount to playing into the hands of the terrorists."

"We must not allow such terrorist acts to undermine the historic opportunity for lasting peace between Pakistan and India," an official statement quoted him as saying.

He said "instead of unsubstantiated allegations and aspersions, if the Indian side has any concrete information it should be shared with Pakistan and we would help with the investigation."

The NSC was attended among others by the top brass of the Pakistan army, navy and air forces besides the Chief Ministers and Governors of the four provinces who gave an overview the regional situation, it said.

Earlier, Pakistan's Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani termed India's decision to postpone the Foreign Secretary level talks as "unwanted and unnecessary and peace process is irreversible and pressure from people and the international community would ensure that it is not derailed."