FBI Director Robert Mueller and top Pakistani officials huddled Wednesday for discussions likely to focus on the Mumbai attacks and other security issues, a day after gunmen ambushed Sri Lanka's cricket team in eastern Pakistan. Mueller arrived in Pakistan after visiting India, where the FBI is believed to be helping investigate the November siege that killed 164 people, including several Americans, in India's financial capital.
Mueller's plans to visit Pakistan were reported in local media before the attack on the cricket players. Media access to the FBI chief was limited in Islamabad, and the U.S. Embassy released few details about the visit due to security concerns. Television footage showed Mueller meeting with Pakistan's Interior Ministry chief, Rehman Malik.
Mueller told reporters in New Delhi that intelligence agencies must cooperate to fight terrorism.
"Terrorism is not a local issue; it's not an issue of one country. It is an issue across the world," he said. "To be successful, we have to work together, share intelligence and utilize our various judicial systems to bring to justice those responsible for these attacks."
India has accused Pakistan-based militants of carrying out the Mumbai attack, and Pakistan has acknowledged at least part of the attack was planned on its soil.
Tuesday's highly coordinated attack on the Sri Lankan team bore some resemblance to the Mumbai tragedy in its use of apparently well-trained, well-equipped gunmen. The assault in Lahore killed six police and a driver and wounded seven of cricket players _ none too seriously.
{{/usCountry}}Tuesday's highly coordinated attack on the Sri Lankan team bore some resemblance to the Mumbai tragedy in its use of apparently well-trained, well-equipped gunmen. The assault in Lahore killed six police and a driver and wounded seven of cricket players _ none too seriously.
{{/usCountry}}One group that might fall under suspicion for the attack on the team is Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has been accused in the Mumbai assault.