US Senator John Kerry arrives in India

NEW DELHI: Influential American Senator John Kerry arrived here on Sunday to hold discussions with Indian leaders on the situation arising out of the Mumbai terror strikes.
 
Kerry is expected to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and some other leaders during his visit.
 
The discussions are expected to focus on the Mumbai terror attacks which has triggered tension between India and Pakistan. India says Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was involved in the attacks and has demanded handing over of its leaders.
 
New Delhi wants the US and rest of the world community to pressurise Islamabad to act in a concrete manner to end terrorism emanating from its soil.
 
Kerry's visit to India comes four days after the US Congress asked Pakistan to "root out" all extremist groups operating in the country and ensure that its territory is not used as a "safe haven and training ground" for terrorists.
 
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate adopted separate bipartisan resolutions condemning the attacks as "savage and horrific."
 
Kerry's visit follows a stream of visits from US, including that of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, influential senator John McCain and Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen.
 
The US has already mounted pressure to act against terror groups responsible for the attacks in Mumbai.