Stop blame-game, cooperate in probe: Pak tells India

Asking India not to indulge in "blame-game" over the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan said it should cooperate in bringing the perpetrators of the "heinous crime" to justice and promised to conduct a "transparent" probe into the terror strikes. See special

Asking India not to indulge in "blame-game" over the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan today said it should cooperate in bringing the perpetrators of the "heinous crime" to justice and promised to conduct a "transparent" probe into the terror strikes.

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Launching a diplomatic initiative to present its side of the post-Mumbai events, Islamabad briefed envoys of foreign countries, including the US, Britain and China, on Pakistan's response to the terrorist attacks and its own probe into information provided by India on the incident.

Indian High Commissioner Satyabrata Pal was separately briefed by interior ministry chief Rehman Malik on Pakistan's investigation, including the follow-up steps it plans to take in the coming days.

Briefing foreign envoys, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said "India should cooperate with Pakistan to help bring the culprits of this heinous crime to justice".

Qureshi "stressed that the blame-game should be avoided" and "reaffirmed the government's determination to extend full cooperation and assistance in investigating the Mumbai incident," said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

He said it was "important that India responds positively to Pakistan's proposals for engagement to address meaningfully the issue of terrorism in the region and specific to Mumbai".

Malik told the envoys that the terms of reference for the inquiry reflected Pakistan's "intent to conduct a transparent and legally tenable inquiry" and proceed with the prosecution of suspects "in accordance with the law of the land".

Qureshi also said the global community should ask India to resume dialogue with Pakistan, Geo TV reported without citing any source.