Condoleezza Rice has met with Pakistan's president Asif Ali Zardari to urge a "robust response" from Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai attacks. The objective of the visit was to cool tensions between India and Pakistan after the Mumbai attacks. Rice also met with the head of the Pakistani army and Prime Minister Yousaf Rasa Gilani.
The toD verdict: A concern for Washington is that the tension with India may cause Pakistan to withdraw troops fighting al-Qaeda-linked Islamists along the western border with Afghanistan. While Indian investigators have said the ten militants behind the attacks were tied to Lashkar-e-Taiba, an illegal militant group supported by elements of Pakistan's notorious intelligence services, Islamabad continues to deny claims that the gunmen who attacked Mumbai were supported by Pakistan, refusing Delhi's demands that the twenty suspects be handed over. Zardari has said Pakistan is committed to opposing global terrorism, stating that "strong action" will be taken by Pakistan if evidence against any of the twenty named suspects comes to light. The Indian government is under intense public pressure to take serious action after the Mumbai atrocities; Pakistan's refusal of India's demands will serve to deepen tensions that are already dangerously overwrought. Yet it seems Zardari's government has its hands tied to a certain extent as it must contend with controversy over the western war against al-Qaeda and Taliban extremists in the Pakistan-Afghan border territory on one hand and political pressure to resist demands made by India on the other.
Pro-Iranian militant killed by US forces Keep up to date with the latest developments and sharpest perspectives in a world of strife and struggle.
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A man, reportedly belonging to Kataib Hezbollah, a militant group supported by Iran has been killed by US forces. Two other men have been detained in Baghdad as part of an ongoing US operation against the group. More than thirty members of the group have been arrested so far. Iran continues to refute US claims that it has sponsored attacks or been involved in providing the group with training and arms.
Child suicide bomber network discovered in Iraq
A blueprint for training and recruiting children as suicide bombers has been found on a memory stick belonging to an al-Qaeda-affiliated group. Iraq has seen children coerced into carrying out attacks throughout the country. A man called Abu Ghazu is alleged to be behind the recruitment of a large number of such children through a widespread network of youth groups.
Indian airports fear terror attacks
Four key airports in three major Indian cities are operating on high alert after threats of terrorist attacks. An email said to be from the Deccan Mujahedeen - the unknown group that claimed responsibility for last week's attacks on Mumbai - threatened to attack the air travel system. Extra security forces have been sent to the airports in Delhi, Bangalore and Madras where thorough security checks on luggage and vehicles are being carried out. Passengers are being advised to arrive three hours prior to their flights.
