July 08, 2008	Tuesday	Rajab 4, 1429

WASHINGTON, July 7: The United States on Monday condemned suicide bombings in Islamabad and Kabul that killed dozens of innocent people and offered to help India investigate the attack on its embassy in the Afghan capital.

“We have offered any assistance not only to Afghan but also to Indian authorities in terms of follow-up, determining who’s responsible for these attacks,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told a briefing in Washington.

“Terrible news in both places, both in Kabul as well as in Islamabad,” he added. “Innocent people lost their lives in terrorist attacks, and it’s a terrible tragedy. We condemn these attacks.”

Earlier, the White House issued a stronger condemnation of the bombing in Pakistan that killed 20 people, called it a “needless act of violence” and vowed to help Islamabad fight “this common enemy.”

“We offer our sincere condolences to those injured in this needless act of violence, and especially to those families who lost loved ones,” White House national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

“Extremists continue to show their disregard for all human life and their willingness to kill fellow Muslims. We will continue to stand with the people of Pakistan as they face this common enemy,” Mr Johndroe said.

Reports in the US media said that President George W. Bush is expected to reiterate the US offer to help the new Pakistani government fight terrorism when he meets Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at the White House on July 28.

The media also noted that Sunday’s attack followed recent threats for revenge for a military operation against the Red Mosque inmates last year.