Zardari meets Rice, says Pak ready to cooperate

US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice met Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad on Thursday.

Pointing out that the focus should be on punishing those responsible and preventing future attacks, Rice said after the meeting, "I hope India & Pakistan will keep communication lines open."

"All responsible nations should cooperate to make sure the perpetrators are brought to justice," she said.

Meanwhile, Zardari said that the government of Pakistan would not let such elements to use country's soil to launch terror attacks.

"Pakistan is ready to cooperate with the investigations into the Mumbai terror attacks. We will take strong action against anyone found involved in attacks," said Asif Ali Zardari.

PTI adds: Putting Pakistan on notice, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday demanded a "robust response" from Islamabad in bringing perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks to justice.

Rice, who flew in to Pakistan after meeting top Indian leaders in New Delhi, said she was not "carrying messages" but going to talk about the "Pakistani response".

"It just has to be a robust response and one that is effective" in bringing the terrorists to justice, Rice was quoted by foreign agencies as telling reporters on board her flight from New Delhi.

Rice said she had also been emphasising the importance of prevention of terror strikes in Pakistan.

"The Pakistanis are sophisticated; they have been dealing with terrorism themselves for sometime. So I am going there to talk about a Pakistani response, not to carry messages," she said.

Soon after arrival, Rice met Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in the garrison town of Rawalpindi.

In New Delhi, Rice rejected Pakistan's contention on "non-state actors" being responsible for the Mumbai terror attacks and demanded that Islamabad take "direct and tough" action against them.

Rice made it clear that Pakistan must act "transparently, fully and urgently" on the leads in connection with the Mumbai incidents and implement its commitments to India in the probe.