Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari says peace talks with India must move forward in order to thwart attempts by terrorists to destroy both countries.
In an opinion piece in The New York Times Tuesday, Mr. Zardari says the Mumbai attacks were directed not only at India but also at Pakistan's new democratic government and its peace efforts with India.
Mr. Zardari says Pakistan is committed to finding and punishing those responsible for last month's terror attacks in Mumbai. He notes that security forces have rounded up several suspects during recent raids against militant groups.
Indian media CNN-IBN channel say Pakistani security officials have detained Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi the alleged mastermind of the attacks and the head of another group fighting Indian rule in Kashmir.
However, Pakistani officials say they will not turn over suspects to India. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi says Pakistan will take action against them in its own legal system.
Islamabad denies any involvement in the three-day Mumbai attacks which killed more than 170 people.
U.S. officials say Mr. Zardari telephoned Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday to inform her of the arrests. McCormack said Pakistan is making what he called "positive steps" to help find those responsible for the attacks.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
