Pak ready to cooperate with India

Lahore, Dec 1: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that New Delhi and Islamabad face threats from the same forces, and Pakistan is ready to co-operate with India on the investigation into the Mumbai terror attacks. "If any evidence points to any individual or group in my part of Pakistan, I shall take the strictest of action in the light of the evidence and in front of the world," he said.

Asked if Pakistan will cooperate with any investigation and any inquiry whatsoever without any hesitation, Zardari replied: "Without any hesitation whatsoever, no matter where it may lead."

In an interview with an Indian news channel, Zardari said: "I stand with the people of India. I stand with the leadership of India. I am sorry that you all are going through this. I can see it on the television."

Zardari further said that strikes on Mumbai are similar to a strike on Karachi or Pakistan.

Clearing the rumours about visit of the director general of the ISI, he said that there was a miscommunication and it was announced that a director would come from ISI, because it is too early for director generals to meet at the moment.

Zardari said that it was agreed between him and Prime Minster Manmohan Singh that a director of the ISI will come.

He added that the director general himself could come later on. "I do not rule out the possibility of co-operation of the highest echelons of intelligence agencies."

Zardari assured that if any evidence points to any militant camps inside Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Islamabad is aware of anything of that sort, he will not only close down those camps, but also take action against people who are running those camps. He said that New Delhi could trust the people of Pakistan to stand with the people of India against these odds. And, we do need to understand that this is a regional threat, it is a world threat and the entire region has to stand up against this threat together.

ANI