Gilani Vows to Punish 26/11 Perpetrators, Seeks US Help to Ease Tension with India

After UP President Barakc Obama conveying India’s concerns on 26/11 case, Pakistani Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani has pledged that perpetrators of Mumbai terror attacks will be brought to justice while urging Washington to help ease tensions with India, said media reports.

Following his meeting with Obama, the prime minister said that he believed that those involved in 26/11 attacks should be punished, said reports.

“Certainly, I am against terrorism and always of the opinion that those who are the culprit, they should be brought to justice,” Gilani was quoted as saying at a dinner he hosted for the Pakistani media.

Talking to reporters on the Obama-Gilani meeting, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the president brought up some issues which he discussed with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, reports said.

“President Obama told us he believes Mr Singh is sincere in his desire to engage Pakistan…”

However, Gilani urged Washington to help ease tensions with India when Obama raised the issue during their White House meeting on Sunday, said reports.

“President Obama discussed with me that he really wants … good relations (between India and Pakistan) and certainly it is in everybody’s interests to play a role, whatever they can play, to bring Pakistan and India closer,” Gilani was quoted as saying.

Talking to reporters, when asked whether Obama offered specific help on issues such as resolving the dispute over Kashmir, Gilani said that this was not discussed, reports said.

(Based on internet reports)