Mumbai attacks had roots in Pakistan: Sweden

Sweden on Wednesday threw its weight behind the contention of India and major powers like the United States and Britain that the Mumbai terror attacks had their roots in Pakistan and sought more effective steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

"I think it's fairly obvious from the information that's available to me that the attack was based on Pakistani soil," Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said after a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad.

With terrorists operating across the borders, Pakistan needs to fight them with 'effective, rapid and active measures' initiated in close cooperation with other states. "And this is particularly appropriate after the Mumbai terror attack which obviously had its (origin) on Pakistani soil," Bildt told a joint news conference.

When Qureshi was asked a question about India incriminating Pakistan in the Mumbai attacks without any concrete evidence, Bildt interjected to say that the information available with him made it obvious that the attacks originated from Pakistani soil.

It was not a question of incriminating Pakistan but of individuals, Bildt pointed out. Pakistan or its government is not being held responsible for 'criminal acts done by people on the territory of that particular nation' but Islamabad would have to act to tackle such elements, he said.

In response to another question about the United Nations Security Council's declaration of JuD, the front organisation of the Lashker-e-Tayiba blamed for the Mumbai attacks, as a terrorist group, Bildt said he was convinced about the world body's decision to crack down on certain individuals and entities in Pakistan.