Rice Demands Pakistan Help in Probe of Attacks

By Anne Gearan

NEW DELHI -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sought Wednesday to refocus India and Pakistan on a common fight against terrorism and away from their mutual suspicions of one another, but neither country seemed willing to go along.

Rice made an emergency visit to India a week after a coordinated terror assault on Western or financial targets in the Indian commercial capital of Mumbai. The attackers targeted symbols of the city's wealth, tourist appeal and Western outlook. Six Americans were among the 171 people who died.

Rice spent the day urging cooperation between the nuclear rivals, but the rhetoric in both countries only grew hotter. The U.S. wants broader sharing of intelligence and a commitment by Pakistan to root out terror groups that have found a comfortable perch in the Muslim country.

"I informed Dr. Rice that there is no doubt that the terrorist attacks in Mumbai were perpetrated by individuals who came from Pakistan and whose controllers are in Pakistan," Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.

That left Rice to say Pakistan bears a "special responsibility" to help get to the bottom of the attacks while awkwardly declining to finger Pakistani militants outright.

Mukherjee said the view that the Mumbai attacks were based in Pakistan is broadly shared around the world, putting Rice on the spot. She said she would not prejudge an investigation into the attacks.

While Rice was assuring India of U.S. help in fighting terrorism, the top U.S. military officer was next door in Pakistan for closed-door talks.