Pakistan condemns Mumbai terrorist attacks

Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday condemned the coordinated terrorist attacks in Mumbai which left 101 people dead, promising full support and cooperation against terrorism.

India has often blamed elements in Pakistan for terrorist attacks, saying they aid militants in the country.

President Asif Ali Zardari deplored the Mumbai attacks, the state-run APP news agency said.

"President Zardari stressed the need for taking strict measures to eradicate terrorism and extremism from the region," it said.

In a separate message, Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani strongly condemned the violence and said Pakistan had always opposed terrorism, the government said in a statement

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who arrived in India on Wednesday for a four-day visit, said in a statement that he was shocked and horrified by the "barbaric" attacks in Mumbai.

Qureshi said that, in his talks with his Indian counterpart on Wednesday, he had spoken of the need for the two countries to strengthen joint efforts against militancy and had suggested setting up a telephone hotline between intelligence chiefs.

"Pakistan offers complete support and cooperation to deal with this menace," Qureshi said.