December 17, 2003	Wednesday	Shawwal 22, 1424

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WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD, Dec 16: The United States on Tuesday offered to assist Pakistan in investigating the assassination attempt on President Pervez Musharraf.

“We condemn the attack. Pakistan is one of our closest allies in the global war on terrorism. And we are pleased that no one was injured,” a State Department official told the United Press International.

US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage telephoned Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri and expressed concern over the attack, a foreign ministry statement issued in Islamabad said.

In reply to a question, the State Department official said: “We are prepared to assist Pakistani authorities in their investigation if they so desire.”

He said the attack demonstrated that “terrorism is as serious a threat to Pakistan as it is to other countries.”

He said although the US administration had been in touch with Islamabad over the matter, the Pakistani authorities were doing the investigation.

Asked if the FBI officials based in Islamabad were helping the investigators, the official said the question could be answered by the Pakistani authorities alone.

Meanwhile, investigators say they are questioning some security officers to determine how the bombs were planted on the bridge, which is on the road Gen Musharraf regularly takes to travel to his home.

Authorities in Islamabad have said that the attack on Gen Musharraf will cause them to further tighten security for the Saarc summit to be attended by the leaders of seven countries, including Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

They urged India and other participants not to reconsider their decision to attend the summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad on Jan 4-6.

The foreign ministry statement said Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage called Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri to convey the US government’s sentiments. They also talked about the latest situation in Iraq and along the Line of Control.

“The US government expressed its concern over the terrorist blast in Rawalpindi after the convoy of President Pervez Musharraf had passed and expressed its happiness that no damage was done,” the statement said.

Mr Kasuri thanked Mr Armitage for the US government’s concern.

Mr Armitage told Mr Kasuri that Secretary of State Colin Powell was planning to make a telephone call to Islamabad but could not do so because he was admitted to hospital for a prostate cancer surgery.

Mr Kasuri conveyed his best wishes for a speedy recovery of Mr Powell.

The statement also quoted Mr Armitage as stressing the importance of the resumption of India-Pakistan dialogue on all issues, including Kashmir.