LeT behind Mumbai carnage, running camps with Pak officials' connivance: US congressman

Washington, Dec 21 (ANI): A prominent US lawmaker has held Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Taiba responsible for carrying out the Mumbai terror attacks that killed 179 people, and also said that the LeT ran camps with the connivance of Pakistani officials.

He made these remarks during passage of the resolution by the US House of Representatives that was sponsored by New York Congressman Carolyn McCarthy and co-sponsored by at least 53 other Senate members.

The resolution said it "joins President George W Bush and President-elect Barack Obama in expressing the solidarity of the people and government of the US with the people and Government of India at this difficult time.

The resolution also vowed to provide all appropriate assistance and resources to the Indian government as it works to bring the terrorists responsible for the attacks to justice, the Dawn reported.

Congressman Ed Royce, a ranking member of the House Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade Subcommittee said the Mumbai attacks were carried out by Lashkar-e-Tayyaba.

Royce, incoming co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India, claimed that LeT had expanded its membership, its operational reach, and its influence among the constellation of radical Islamist networks. "Inside Pakistan, it still operates training camps and runs a charitable and social services organization that has been embraced by Pakistani officials," he said."What is clear is that Pakistan and South Asia is at a crossroads. Pakistanis have to make the fundamental decision to turn their backs on the culture of jihad. For if they don't, the future of their country, the region, and security in the world will be in peril," Royce said.

The resolution urged Pakistan to work with India to bring those responsible for Mumbai terror attacks to justice and to prevent terrorists from using its territory as a safe haven.It also expressed desire for improved coordination between the US and India, with the goal of combating terrorism and advancing international peace and security and rejected "any effort to confuse or associate the horrific attacks on Mumbai with a particular people or faith as a whole." (ANI)