Indian, Pakistani leaderships condemn Samjhauta Express blasts

New Delhi, Feb 19 (UNI) The leaderships of India and Pakistan strongly condemned the blasts in the Samjhauta Express near Panipat early today in which at least 66 people were killed and several injured and pledged not to allow the incident to disrupt the fragile peace process.

President A P J Abdul Kalam expressed concern and grief over the loss of lives in the attack. In a message, he conveyed heartfelt condolences to the next of kin of those killed and prayers for the early recovery of those injured in the tragedy.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed anguish and grief at the loss of lives and added the culprits will soon be brought to book.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf condemned the blasts and asserted that Islamabad would not allow elements trying to disrupt the Indo-Pak peace process to succeed in their designs.

Pakistan asked the Indian government to bring to book the perpetrators of the dastardly act of terror.

Pakistan Foreign minister Khurshid Mehmud Kasuri, who is to arrive here tomorrow, said in Islamabad that his plans to travel to New Delhi remained unchanged.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil, condemning the blasts, said forces opposed to the India-Pakistan peace process were behind the incident. Talking to the media after reaching the incident site, Mr Patil said, '' This is the handiwork of those who do not want us to strengthen relations with other countries.'' Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said ''the attack was intended to tarnish the image of Indian Railways, disrupt the cordial relations between India and Pakistan and throw a spanner in the talks to be held between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries.'' Strongly condemning the blasts and accusing the UPA government of maintaining a ''soft attitude'' towards terrorism, leading to recurring incidents like the attack in the Samjhauta Express, the BJP demanded implementation of strigent laws to tackle such attacks in the country.

BJP president Rajnath Singh asked the UPA government to build up ''diplomatic pressure'' on Pakistan to end its support to terrorist groups operating in India.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi denounced the blasts and appealed to the people and Pakistan to ''stand up firmly against such enemies of humanity''.

The CPI and CPI-(M) condemned the incident and demanded the government leave no effort to uncover the conspiracy which led to the tragedy.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, denouncing the incident, said initial investigations suggest the blasts had been carried out by terrorists who were attempting to derail the ongoing peace process between the two countries.

Haryana Governor A R Kidwai expressed shock at the blast, and called the incident as ''very unfortunate'' and ''painful''.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condemned the incident and called it a ''dastardly act''.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh condemned the blasts and said it would hamper the ongoing Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) to foster peace, goodwill and mutual understandingbetween India and Pakistan.

The United States expressed shock at the blasts and described it as a ''deliberate act of terrorism,'' and expressed the resolve to defeat the scourge.

A statement issued by the its embassy here, said the US government was ''shocked and deeply saddened'' by the tragic loss of life caused by a ''deliberate act of terrorism''.

''We extend our sincere condolences to the victims of the criminal act and their families,'' the statement said.

The European Union condemned the blasts and appealed to India and Pakistan not to allow the incident derail the ongoing peace process between them.

Talking to reporters here, EU Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner said ''we want India and Pakistan to stay the course as far as the peace proces is concerned...let those wanting to spoil the peace proces not succeed in their evil designs.'' Conveying her sympathies to the members of the bereaved families, she said the EU condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

UNI