ISI chief to visit India to help terror probe

Islamabad: Pakistan agreed on Friday to send its military intelligence chief to India to assist with the investigation into the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, official sources and news channels said.

The decision was taken by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani after consultations with army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani, the sources said.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had requested his Pakistani counterpart to send Inter-Services Initelligence director general Lieutenant General Ahmad Shuja Pasha to India, during a telephonic conversation.

The sources said the schedule for the ISI chief's visit to India was being worked out.

After Thursday's deadly attacks, Singh said the attackers came from outside India.

The Indian premier made a thinly veiled warning to Pakistan when without naming anyone he asked neighbours to beware that there would be a cost to pay if cross-border terrorism was not stopped.

Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee reportedly said on Friday that elements in Pakistan were responsible for the Mumbai attacks.

Pakistani leaders have strongly condemned the attacks, offering cooperation in the investigation and underscoring the need for jointly combating terrorism.

President Zardari telephoned Manmohan Singh on Friday and told him he was appalled and shocked by the Mumbai tragedy, according to an official statement.

The president said the tragedy had opened up his own wounds as his wife Benazir Bhutto had also fallen prey to terrorists.

Zardari, during the conversation with Singh, also said that non-state actors wanted to force upon the governments their own agenda but they must not be allowed to succeed.

"We should not fall into the trap of the militants," Zardari said, assuring Singh that his government would cooperate with India in exposing and apprehending the masterminds behind the attacks.

Zardari conveyed to the Indian prime minister his and Pakistani people's condolences over the loss of innocent lives in the attacks.

Gilani also telephoned the Indian prime minister and strongly condemned the Mumbai attacks and said Pakistan, like India, was also a victim of terrorism. He extended his government's support to India in combating terrorism.