Pakistan must act against terror, says India

New Delhi, May 8 (IANS) Pakistan must act against terrorists including those who organised the Mumbai attack, India's External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said Tuesday after meeting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Krishna told a joint news conference with Clinton that the recent terrorist attack in Kabul had highlighted "once again the need for elimination of terrorists and sanctuaries in the neighbourhood".

He said there was also "the need for stronger action from Pakistan, including the bringing to justice of the perpetrators of the (2008) Mumbai terror attack".

Krishna said he and Clinton also discussed "our respective relations with Pakistan".

Krishna said both countries underlined the need for a peaceful settlement of Iran's nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiations.

He said this must be based on Iran's right as a member of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) but it must also abide by its obligations as a non-weapon state.

Krishna said India and the US continued to make "tangible progress" in all areas of cooperation.

"We expressed the hope that our economic relationship would grow much faster and realise its enormous potential."

The Indian minister added that there were "issues" on both sides. Krishna pointed out the difficulties faced by Indian IT companies in the US.

He said India was committed to providing a level playing field to all US companies within the framework of national laws.

"Our strategic consultation have a global character ... (due to) convergence of view."