G-8 Condemn Mumbai Bombers And Terror Sponsors

The G-8 as well as representatives from Brazil, China, Mexico, South Africa, and the African Union banded together and strongly condemned both the people who committed the Mumbai bombings and their sponsors. The move came at the request of the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Expressing their outrage over what they called "barbaric terrorist acts carried out in Mumbai and other parts of India", the leaders said: "We are determined to continue the fight against terrorism by all legitimate means. We express our readiness to undertake all necessary measures to bring to justice the perpetrators, organisers and sponsors of these and other terrorist acts, and those who incited the perpetrators to commit them."

Talking to reporters, foreign secretary Shyam Sharan described the stand as a "major diplomatic gain". "While we continue our fight against terrorists, this unequivocal message against their sponsors is an important gain," he said.

India needs to continue to pursue the investigation. Hopefully, the perpetrators can be definitively identified, as well as the backers of the plot. The US should make sure this does not degenerate into an India/Pakistan confrontation.