Britain today differed with India's view that Pakistan's official agencies could have had a role in Mumbai attacks even as it underlined that Islamabad has the "fundamental" responsibility to target the "roots" of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) which was behind the terror strike.
India hoped that Pakistan would hand over the "fugitives of Indian law", notwithstanding Islamabad's refusal to do so, and asked the world community to build pressure on Pakistan in a "concerted" manner to ensure that perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks are brought to justice.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who held "exhaustive" talks with his British counterpart David Miliband, apprised him of details of the Mumbai attacks and its links in Pakistan.
"It is clear where the responsibility lies for Mumbai attacks, it is with the LeT," Miliband said at a joint press conference with Mukherjee after their talks.
"The Pakistan government, Pakistani state has the primary responsibility, fundamental responsibility to tackle the roots of this organisation," the British Foreign Minister said. On Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's view that official agencies of Pakistan could have been involved in the Mumbai strikes, Miliband said, "We do not believe the attacks were directed by Pakistani state".
He, however, said it is important to see what is the "approach of Pakistani state towards LeT organisation and the way Pakistani state takes on the LeT."
