Mumbai attack undermined peace efforts: Zardari

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has admitted that Mumbai terror attack has undermined efforts for peace and said his government is “cooperating in unearthing and bringing to justice the perpetrators of militant acts”.

“The democratic civil government went out of the way in our peace overtures towards India. It would have been most helpful if our initiatives had been welcomed and responded to in a positive manner. Mumbai attack has undermined efforts for peace. Pakistan is cooperating in unearthing and bringing to justice the perpetrators of militant acts,” Zardari was quoted as saying by Associated Press of Pakistan.

The president said that Pakistan stood for peace in the region and the world, and wanted early resumption of the composite dialogue process with India.

Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists attacked Mumbai Nov 26-28, 2008, killing 166 people.

Zardari said Pakistan would not let its soil to be used by the terrorists against any country.

He said that blame game would not serve the cause of the war against militancy and emphasised that the international community “should also understand and appreciate our determination to fight militancy”.

Zardari made these remarks while addressing the fourth national conference of SAFMA (South Asia Free Media Association) titled “Setting a National Agenda on Media, Democracy and Good Governance” here Sunday night.

He welcomed SAFMA proposal to hold third India-Pakistan parliamentary conference in Islamabad in the near future.