US offers help in tracking terror agents

As India started the hunt for the terrorists responsible for the series of bomb blasts in Mumbai and Kashmir on Tuesday, the US said it was with India in its war against terror.

Leaders and people from across political spectrum President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, opposition leader Senator Hillary Clinton, a number of Congressmen and Indian Americans were quick to not only condemn the blasts and express solidarity with the people of India, but also offered their unqualified support in war to defeat terror.

Terming it as a brutal attack on commuter rail passengers, Bush said it only ‘‘strengthens the resolve of the international community to stand united against terrorism and to declare unequivocally that there is no justification for the vicious murder of innocent people.’’

‘‘On behalf of the American people, Laura and I send our deepest condolences to the friends and families of the victims of today’s (July 11) brutal attacks on commuter rail passengers in Mumbai,’’ said the US President.

Reflecting the new era of relationship between the two nations, the State Department has offered to assist the Indian Government in its investigations against the terrorists attack.

‘‘The United States stands with India in the war against terror. Those responsible for these terrible acts should be swiftly brought to justice,’’ Rice said in a statement.

Among the first to condemn the blasts, Rice termed them as horrific. The Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns rang up Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen to convey his deep condolences. Burns said the US stood resolutely with India with its firm and unqualified support in fighting this menace of terrorism.

‘‘We have been in touch with the Indian Government concerning these attacks, and of course we will offer any assistance that they might request,’’ State Department spokesman Scan McCormack told reporters.

Joining Americans in mourning the loss of life in Mumbai, the wife of former President Bill Clinton, Senator Hillary Clinton from New York, said the attacks like those of London and Madrid ‘‘reminds us of our vulnerability and our shared responsibility to safeguard our people, including through improvements in infrastructure and transportation systems.’’ Considered a close friend of India, she said: ‘‘These brutal attacks should strengthen our resolve to combat terrorism and bring those responsible for the senseless loss of life to justice.’’

The Ranking Democrat in the House International Relations Committee, Tom Lantos, who played a key role in the passage of the nuclear bill, said the attack gave all the more reason for closer ties between the two countries.

Saddened by injuries and loss of life, Congressman Frank Pallone, founder and former co-chair of Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, said: ‘‘My heart goes out to all the victims of this disaster and their families. These attacks were a senseless act of terrorism and violence. We must work together as a world community to stop terrorist organisations wherever they exist to prevent a murderous event like this from happening again.’’

Congressman Eliot Engel from New York said: ‘‘Let us stand with India during this dark hour. I extend my deepest sympathy to the people of India and know that they will have our support as they rebuild, recover, and take steps to prevent future acts of terrorism.’’

Similar statements were issued by a large number of Congressmen across the country, like Edward Markey, Norm Coleman, Jesse Jackson and Mark Kennedy.