U.S. Wants Pakistan Crackdown On Militants

Secretary Of State Rice Demands "Concrete Steps" From Islamabad In Mumbai Attack Probe

(CBS)  This story was written by CBS News' Farhan Bokhari in Dubai, Maria Usman in Islamabad, and CBSNews.com's Tucker Reals in London.

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Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice flew into Pakistan Thursday to press the country's leaders to take a bold stand against the militants widely suspected of waging the deadly terror siege in Mumbai, India last week.

CBS News Farhan Bokhari reported that sources inside Pakistan say Secretary Rice made it clear the U.S. wants to see a series of "concrete steps" from Islamabad, going beyond just another ban on Islamic groups.

Rice said measures such as arresting people and putting them on trial on the basis of solid evidence should be, "part of a new and more acceptable effort," a senior Pakistani security official told Bokhari.

Her meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad led him to reiterate his commitment to cooperate with the ongoing investigation, vowing "strong action" against any militants in his country found to be involved.

Zardari stopped short, however, of meeting India's demand that any suspects be turned over to New Delhi. He said earlier this week that any suspects - with proven evidence against them - would be tried in Pakistan.

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET), a group created in the 1980's by Pakistan's military spy agency to fight Indian forces in the disputed Kashmir region, is widely believed to have been behind the attack.

The LET was banned in Pakistan in 2002, following U.S. pressure in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, but it has recreated itself under a new name, Jamaat ud Dawa, and Western intelligence sources have told CBS News the group is likely still receiving financial and logistical support from elements inside the Pakistani security apparatus.

Lashkar-i-taiba has ordered its fighters based in the tribal areas to enter Afghanistan, in order to avoid being hunted by Pakistani authorities, according to a senior Pakistani official who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity.

"These orders have been given since wednesday" the official said.

The LET was one of the groups mentioned by Rice in her meeting with Zardari, Bokhari reported. Thus far, American officials have publicly declined to specifically name any of the groups suspected in the Mumbai attack.

Reporting on the investigation Wednesday for CBSNews.com's new World Watch blog, correspondent Sheila MacVicar reported that Ajmal Amir Qasab, the only suspect in the Mumbai attack captured alive, had named an LET commander as the controller of the operation, according to Indian officials.

MacVicar said there were numerous other pieces of evidence, including a cell phone SIM card that pointed the investigation in the direction of the LET, and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Indian authorities put the country's airports on high alert Thursday after receiving intelligence of a possible airborne terror threat. The alert came as police continued to find unexploded ordinance at the locations attacked last week, and as criticism over the Indian government's ability to prevent the attack grew.

Rice and Zardari discussed the rising tension between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai attacks and the steps that are required to resolve the issue, reported CBS News' Maria Usman in Islamabad.

The Secretary of State said neither of the nuclear-armed neighbors was considering a military response to the increase in tension. There were reports earlier in the week that India might try to target the headquarters of Jaamat ud Dawa in Pakistan with missile strikes.

Bokhari reported that, according to security sources, Jaamat ud Dawa has moved many of its senior members away from the group's headquarters in recent days.

The militant organization is based on a sprawling compound in eastern Pakistan, near the border with India, which includes Islamic schools, mosques and residential quarters.

In regards to her confidence in India's and Pakistan’s ability to deal directly with each other in this matter, Rice said she hoped both countries would "keep lines of communication open."

Rice noted that, despite the difficult circumstances presented by the Mumbai attack, relations between the nations had been improving, so there was a good base to work from, reported Usman.

Terrorism and security expert Michael Clarke told CBS News that everything possible must be done to prevent hostility between Pakistan and India.

"This crisis in south Asia will be a globally important crisis if it gets out of hand. We must prevent this becoming a war between two nuclear armed powers, or even a military standoff between two nuclear armed powers," said Clarke. (Watch interview with Michael Clarke.)

But Clarke was skeptical President George W. Bush's lame duck administration still carried enough diplomatic clout to make peace between the neighbors, "and the incoming administration has no power over anything at the moment. So there is a natural hiatus at the moment, and for all that America can make its views known, it can't do very much."

"The outside world has got to act now. It can't sit back and wait and see how things develop. They're already developing. We could be in the middle of a genuinely nasty crisis inside a couple of weeks," warned Clarke.

Rice also met Thursday with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, reported Usman, with whom she discussed the same issues. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qurishi were also present at the meeting.

Before leaving Pakistan, Rice told reporters that she had good discussions with leaders in both Pakistan and India, where she visited on Wednesday. She said the Mumbai attack showed a level of sophistication that warranted urgency by all the countries involved to bring the perpetrators to justice.

[formrusmcsgt]

Rice should be spending her time reigning in Israel:

Israel is drawing up plans to attack Iran''s nuclear facilities and is prepared to launch a strike without backing from the U.S., an Israeli newspaper reported Thursday.

[promaclaura]

Rice should be spending her time reigning in Israel:

Israel is drawing up plans to attack Iran''''s nuclear facilities and is prepared to launch a strike without backing from the U.S., an Israeli newspaper reported Thursday.




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Posted by formrusmcsgt at 06:27 AM : Dec 04, 2008

Foxnews.com this morning.

[promaclaura]

Her war mongering comments are falling on deaf ears. Fear, Fear, Fear. May she go to hell.


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Posted by sockpuppet4 at 06:02 AM : Dec 04, 2008

Rice is hardly warmongering, she''s more like a fireman for all these nutjobs in the Middle East blowing each other up. Condi is soft spoken, what do you think we will get with Hillary Clinton?

[intheshade-2009]

Attacking Iran could be dumber than when we attacked Ossetia. Israel will disclaim all responsibility again and Russia and China will respond with disapropriate force.

[promaclaura]

We could only hope. Israel needs to be eliminated.


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Posted by FloydZeppd at 07:18 AM : Dec 04, 2008

This makes you sound like a muslim.

[runningralph]

MS Rice is doing exactly what needs to be done. Denounce the jihadists and call for Pakistan to take steps to stop terrorism. Obama should be joining in. In fact Obama should take the lead.

[miamiderick]

Harry Trueman must have been a muslim too.

[metsobitso]

Saying that some people are selfish and arrogant might seem like stating the obvious to you, but bringing it up here only hurts people%u2019s feelings. You should be nice to these people.

[metsobitso]

If Iran is attacked, they should respond by blowing up their own and their neighbour%u2019s oil fields and making them radio active. If Sadam Hussein had done that when he was first attacked, he could have saved his people from years of suffering under a cruel occupation. When the oil is taken out of the equation, Condo Rice and her ilk will loose interest and go elsewhere.

[pirmin3]

Pakistan knows that as soon as they clean up the tribal areas the money from the US stops. They will never crack down.

[cntrymuzksux]

How dare you suggest the religios right as I am a part of have done any damage to this holy country! You must be a Godless liberal who wishes for the destruction of America. And yes my preacher does wear a flag lapel pin.

Posted by lady_organs at 08:45 AM : Dec 04, 2008

Then quit being a troll, then.

It''s obvious, based on your ignorant posts condeming muslims, you have, or at least are extremely willing, to do harm to this country.

Your ignorance should be a crime.

[runningralph]

Ms.Rice is taking a stand. Where is Obama?

[cntrymuzksux]

Ms.Rice is taking a stand. Where is Obama?

Posted by runningralph at 08:54 AM : Dec 04, 2008

Biding his time...

[pensacola98]

Pakistan is not a terrorist nation. In fact they are quite the opposite. They have history with the USA that is honorable and faithful.

In the early 1900''s, the USA was dealing with the infamous Pancho Villa and his gang of bandits. They raided families on both sides of the US-Mexican border. They had weapons and terrorized hundreds of citizens.

What Pakistan is dealing with at this time is similar with the only exception being wealth. These militants have wealth and are not robbing families, but definitely do terrorize civilians on both sides of the Afghanistan and Pakistan border. With wealth, they have access to advanced weapons and have formidable stregnth.

Pakistan has dealt with their militants before, just like the USA.

Homeland security knows about all the Bible thumpers in Tennesee, Texas, and Kentucky who dig tunnels under their homes in their backyards, stash dried food, weapons and Gold, in preparation for the "Rapture".

We live with dangerous people right here in the USA.

Pakistan can solve their problems and the USA can solve ours.

[promaclaura]

IwasHungry68 - you''re casting stones. I''m Catholic and my kid''s doctor is Muslim, from Pakistan. Doctor has practiced here for decades and he is great. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of Muslim doctors in this country, that''s pretty impressive.

Also, my hometown has always been pretty Republican, we have had seminar''s, newspaper articles, and open houses introducing their "Muslim" community.

I think saying,"Condemn the "religious right" and the republican party before you condemn Muslims", sounds so naive as my community doesn''t represent this, we are fighting "terrorists" not conservative "Muslims".

[cntrymuzksux]

Pakistan can solve their problems and the USA can solve ours.

Posted by Pensacola98 at 08:57 AM : Dec 04, 2008

Ask the Indians if they want to leave Pakistan to solving their own problems. I was listening to some of the reactions coming from the citizens of India and it sounds eerily like our reactions after 9/11. Their feeling is, if Pakistan is unable or unwilling to quash the extremist movement, India will do it for them.

[cntrymuzksux]

Bush can avert that with a signing statement.

Posted by lady_organs at 09:15 AM : Dec 04, 2008

Riddle me this, Batlady.

Are you a troll or just overtly stupid?

[cntrymuzksux]

Riddle me this, Batlady.

Are you a troll or just overtly stupid?

------

Posted by cntrymuzksux
=========================

Neither, I am a christian!

Posted by lady_organs at 09:20 AM : Dec 04, 2008

LOL! Seems I got my answer.

[cntrymuzksux]

lady_organs = lonely blog troll

Posted by FloydZeppd at 09:28 AM : Dec 04, 2008

Sing her a gospel song then. Try a mash up of the two gospel greats in your handle.

I''m thinking ''Wish You Were On the Stairway to Heaven'' would suffice.

[donevis-2009]

Me? No I only want to make this country great in the eyes of Jesus. Is that a crime?
Posted by lady_organs

Once again the "Bearded Clam" Professes to speak for Jesus. If It''s has nothing to do with peace and love Jesus is not involved. Find your own soap box and a better handle.

[mr_noosebomb]

Its the Pinky and the Brain world takeover plan:

Step 1. Insert terrorist attack
Step 2. Help investigate
Step 3. Blame their enemey
Step 4. Insert our military anti-terrorist forces to ''protect'' them



The Mob has been doing this for years. Very profitable they say.

[maharajag]

USA is completely wasting it tax payers money by sendin condo to "tell" pakistan to "cooperate".


MAKE NO MISTAKE.... PAKISTAN WILL NEVER EVER COOPERATE. THEY ARE MUSLIMS. MUSLIMS HAVE A PROVEN HISTORY OF DOING CRUEL DISTRUCTION EVERYWHERE IN THE NON-MUSLIM PLACES/COUNTRIES.

MAKE A NOTE..... PAKISTAN "WILL" SUPPLY NUCLEAR BOMBS TO TERRORISTS AGAINST USA.

IT WILL ALSO SUPPLY NUKES TO DESTROY MANY MORE PEACE LOVING NON-MUSLIM COUNTRIES.

[maharajag]

morphndol6
morphndol6

has changed the names.....

he used to go by following names

brdlicky

autumn


HE IS A CRUEL VIOLENT EVIL PEDO

[ranger101st2]

P-stan is a state sponsor of terror. If the US is to make A-stan stable, we will have to do it ourselves. The militants goal is to take P-stan, and they have support among the military and the ISI. It may not be long when reports come out that US warplanes have struck targets inside P-stan, or US troops have ramped up raids inside P-stan. It is a failed state, with nuclear weapons. By ALL means, we should destroy these elements where they live-in PAKISTAN. They either stay out the way or get lit up. Time''s a wastin'' lets get some!!

[cntrymuzksux]

A lot of that happened under a Liberal Majority House and Senate!

Posted by DaVicar1 at 09:56 AM : Dec 04, 2008

Ummm?

[cntrymuzksux]

you heard me...get the whacks out of your ears!


Posted by DaVicar1 at 10:02 AM : Dec 04, 2008

[mrmeatspin]

bush and his drones had these terrorists on thier knees..in a corner and begging us to stop..now with obama and his liberal crew coming in..

THE PARTY IS BACK ON..

obama is no Bush

[ranger101st2]

While deployed to the ATO, there were MANY instances of PAK army and FC fighting alongside thier Talib "brothers"...we are being taken for a ride, and I mean Dubya&Co. $10BILLION, Pervez is laughing all the way to the bank. When the US has the manpower it needs, we should push all the way to Karachi. The P-stani''s HATE us, and when we work out a new logistics route, its GAME ON. We will hit them where they lay thier heads at nite. I wouldn''t mind if India sends a couple armored columns west in order to protect themselves. We did it. Why not them?

[nolalou]

We need to drop Israel like third period French. Uselees leeches. Truman was right, they''''re arrogant, selfish and of no value.

Posted by FloydZeppd

That quote sounds more like Hitler than Truman! You want to see something useless, then I suggest you look in the nearest mirror, you moron!
For the record , this is what Truman said regarding the formation of Israel after WWII.

"Today, not tomorrow, we must do all that is humanly possible to provide a haven for all those who can be grasped from the hands of Nazi butchers. Free lands must be opened to them."

[lady_organs]

Oh I see; you''''re just another idiot Republican without a clue. You cheated your way into the White House twice, tried to lie your way into the White House this time, it didn''''t work, now all you can do is point fingers at the Democrats and blame them for Republican screw-ups. How pathetic!


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Posted by tj217
===================
Its all Clintons fault.

[promaclaura]

we would be wrapping it up in A-stan
Posted by Ranger101st2

I don''t believe that statement, do you really think it would be wrapping up? If the stories are true and OBL escaped into Pakistan in December of 2001, we would have to be fighting in Pakistan as well. This scenario looks never ending to me.

[shbi68]

To FloydZeppd. What has Israel to do with Pakistan harboring terrorists? Oh that''s right, people like you (neo-nazis) blame Israel/Jews for everything. Israel must be protected, not because it is a Jewish state, but because it is literally the ONLY democracy in the Middle East. Democractic countries have healthy, thriving economies and are actually positive forces in the world. The only natural resource the other countries provide is training and protecting terrorists. Oh yeah....Oil. If you want to settle the Middle East problem, stop our dependency on foreign oil. As soon as we are no longer totally dependant on that, we can tell them to "take a bath in it".

[notblue]

tj217, if Bush was all wrong then explain why the Messiah will "stay the course"? Haven''t you figured out yet the false rhetoric he spewed up to the election was for blinded ingrates like you? Now that he is president reality once again will be the way forward, and that reality is the enemy is for real and needs to be defeated.

[libsh8theusa]

obama is no Bush

Posted by MrMeatSpin at 10:06 AM : Dec 04, 2008

Thank God for that!

Posted by CBSNews53

We will see if you have to eat those words.. Obama might be worst...

[legacyabq]

Hey CIA MOSSAD, etc etc etc

When you create monsters, they run amok..
bin Laden, the contras, Manuel Noriega, Saddam Hussein, the Samoza family, the Afghani "freedom fighters", the S. American right-wing counter-insurgetnt paramilitaries trained at Ft Benning,
Frankenstein, etc. etc. etc.

Leave the rest of the world alone (relatively speaking at least)

Time to keep the focus here..
Wait, not THAT kind of focus...
Screw it: disband the CIA!!

[legacyabq]

No, the DUMBocrats would just give them Ritalin (at goevernment expense), label them a minority, and sign them up for free cheese and free housing!

Posted by DaVicar1 at 10:34 AM : Dec 04, 2008
+ report abuse


LMFAO!!!!!!!

[notblue]

Attacks in Iraq areat there lowest level since 03, thanks to staying the course troop withdrawel can be accellerated no thanks to the Dems or Obama. Obama''s rhetoric was nothing more than kool-aide forthe haters, he will not withdraw precipitously, he will not withdraw from Afghansitan, he has stated previously that he would unilaterally enter Pakistan and take out terrorists. What world do you people live in? Time to join the adult world of reality. tj217, I know you libs are dissapointed he hasn''t kept his promise of immediate withdrawel, toooo bad! He will do what''s best for this nation not what''s best for your twisted political ideology. Why is it when you people have no intelligent rebuttle, just the same tired false political propghanda you people resort to namecalling and insults? I forgot, that;s the leftwing way, it''s all you people have done for the last eight years, good luck with that, I guess in your case ignorance truly is bliss.

[berniew4]

There is a new adult game for christmas called " WOULD YOYU RATHER" " I wonder how the obama fans against Bush would play. .It means for every statement you must have a "RATHER " wish to offset. For EXAMPLE. Would you rather Bush did not go into IRAQ. OR WOULD YOU RATHER Hussein could continue to kill 200,00 IRAQUIE innocrents and thgen blame Bush for letting it happen When the US Congress approves his decisions ?? Would you rather stopping ALL toture or tough questioning ? OR OR would you rathert let all suspects go free and kill yhousands of Americans before we find out their plans. It is a good game if you hgave the BLS or guts to play!!

[legacyabq]

It would be difficult for Pakistan to cooperate with us to attack the Jihadist Camps in the northwest territories because powerful elements in the intell service and the army would oppose the actions, would not properly carry it out, and would tip off the Jihadists.

It doesn''''t help our position with the Pakistani public for us to go it alone in their country

etc.
McLiar

Good post, very true

[elcherokee]

Israel should be eliminated. Illegal Immigrants from Europe who stole local native land. Selfish, ungrateful, arrogant.

Truman was right.
*****

And just what do you think ahould be done about the illegle immigrants from europe who stole the land from the natives and started the United Sates

[notblue]

tj217, all wars "should never have happened" When will people like you decide to live in the present? decide to acknowledge the threat of militant Islam? the election is over! Get a friggin clue!

[niceface19]

this monkey woman above should be hung by now for her role in lying to the people.

[vsg4]

"REALLY?
Well, I would rather have a BLACK MUSLIM FROM KENYA be President, instead of this next guy we...

...oh?

...nevermind

Posted by DaVicar1 at 11:14 AM : Dec 04, 2008"

Like in 2000 supreme court did not make him president the people are.

[maharajag]

who committed this atrocity will be punished in one way or another. The whole does not need to pay the price for the actions of the few...
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Posted by tj217 at 11:12 AM : Dec 04, 2008


there is thing called... GENERAL CONCEPT....


the General Concept is that Most Western People are not beheaders or call for killing of innocent people because they dont follow their western religion!!

Here let me give you 2 scenarios:

Scenario 1: Draw a cartoon about hindu god and make a picture in which you defame any hindu god.


Scenario 2: Do the same scenario for muslim god


Now observe the results.

In scenarion 1 Some Indian may say curse word and say hars word for the creator and then will forget about it.


In Scenario 2 .... THERE WILL BE HUNDREDS OF DEAD BODIES AND SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF STABBED AND BURNED PEOPLE AND THOUSANDS OF DESTROYED CITIES /BUILDING


The General Concept is:

the most Indian do never ever believe in beheading or killing or attacking another country.

that almost all the people of world know and believe that India has never took part in sending any terrorist to pakistan.

That the MOST PAKISTANI SUPPORT TERROR IN NON MUSLIM COUNTRY

THAT THE YOU WILL NEVER FIND A SINGLE "MADARSA" IN INDIA THAT TEACHES HATE TO NON-HINDU

[cntrymuzksux]

REALLY?
Well, I would rather have a BLACK MUSLIM FROM KENYA be President, instead of this next guy we...

...oh?

...nevermind


Posted by DaVicar1 at 11:14 AM : Dec 04, 2008

Kinda proves the whole point of how close-minded and hate filled some people are. Continue to believe this line of krap and, along with that, Bush was a great president. See where it''s gotten you?

Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny...more fables I''m sure you believe in too.

[cntrymuzksux]

One Fairie Tale I know I won`t buy is the one about the Black Messiah from the Poor side of Chicago come to save the World, free the troops, and punish all the successful wage-earners!

Posted by DaVicar1 at 11:49 AM : Dec 04, 2008

There''s hope for you yet. Of course, if you''re not willing to believe in your fairy tales, why make them up in the first place?

[cntrymuzksux]

You can deny it all you want to, but facts be facts...and you were stupid and bought this whacko krap to be put in our White House.


Posted by RowdynTex at 11:59 AM : Dec 04, 2008

Well, good morning to you too, Rowdy.

How was Thanksgiving?

Spent mine in Chi-town.

[notblue]

tj217, THE BLAME LIES WITH MUSLIM MILITANCY! GET IT? probably not! Why is it people like you purposely ignore the savage barbarism of this evil cult? why is it people like you justify the barbarism by displacing blame? Why is it people like you refuse to acknowledge that the world and greater middle east would be peaceful if not for RADICAL ISLAM, all your America bashing, Bush bashing, policy bashing do is embolden the TRUE ENEMY. It''s time you stop the eletist condescending leftwing garbage and get on the right side. Get it? Probably not, your move.on brainwashing was just to pervasive.

[legacyabq]

What Im thinking is is that we are damned if we do and damned if we dont when it comes to fighting militant muslim extremists.
The more we fight, the more they recruit, justifying their tactics on our fight, which we justify on their tactics..
Never ending cycle..
What will it take to stop this??
It doesnt seem to be a winnable war, but we cant do nothing can we?

[cntrymuzksux]

Never ending cycle..
What will it take to stop this??
It doesnt seem to be a winnable war, but we cant do nothing can we?

Posted by legacyABQ at 12:05 PM : Dec 04, 2008

These extremists are, IMO, beginning to solidify their own doom. The more targets they unleash their terrorist plots on, the more they make pariahs of themselves. We''re in a precarious position because both India and Pakistan are allies of ours. One question you have to ask is, why don''t we support India attacking Pakistan and not back them in this enterprise?

After all, didn''t we do the same?