Thaindian News

New Delhi, Dec 2 (IANS) India is likely to share emerging evidence against elements in Pakistan in the Mumbai terror attacks when External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee meets US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Wednesday. “Her visit is in the context of the terrorist attack in Mumbai that had targeted innocent civilians including tourists from all parts of the world,” the external affairs ministry said in a statement here Tuesday.

Besides Mukherjee, Rice will call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and discuss ways to deepen cooperation between the two countries in combating terrorism.

Rice is also likely to meet Home Minister P. Chidambaram and National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan.

India will share with Rice evidence linking Pakistan-based elements to the Mumbai carnage and ask the US to put pressure on Islamabad to act against those responsible for the killings, official sources said.

At least 183 people including 22 foreigners were killed in the multiple strikes in Mumbai beginning Nov 26 night.

Rice comes to New Delhi a day after US president-elect Barack Obama pledged “steadfast support” to India in catching the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks and underlined that India has the sovereign right to go after terrorists to protect itself.

“Sovereign nations obviously have a right to protect themselves,” said Obama, who takes over from Bush Jan 20. He was speaking in Chicago after rolling out his national security team.