Rice Demands Pakistan Help in Probe of Attacks

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was meeting civilian and military officials of both India and Pakistan during the trip, a senior defense official said Wednesday on condition of anonymity.

The official declined to give details and spoke privately because the meetings were still under way, saying only, "It's all about a cooperative approach to regional security."

Pakistan's president Asif Zardari indicated on Wednesday he would not hand over 20 suspects wanted by India and said they would be tried in Pakistan if there were evidence of wrongdoing.

Zardari's new civilian administration would likely face a fierce backlash from Muslim groups and nationalists if it simply handed over the suspects to Pakistan's old foe, India.

Thousands of Indians -- many calling for war with Pakistan -- gathered in Mumbai for a vigil to mark one week since the beginning of the deadly rampage.

More than 2,000 students marched through Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, on Wednesday, shouting anti-U.S. and anti-Indian slogans.

The Bush administration has had varying success in reframing its relationship with both countries, which have fought three wars with one another.

In Pakistan's case, a new civilian government has replaced a military government that was a strong ally of President George W. Bush in fighting terrorism. In India, a troubled nuclear cooperation deal finally came through this fall and both nations have said it signaled a fresh start after years of lingering Cold War distance.