NEW YORK. Dec 7: A meeting of South Asian community leaders and journalists called upon governments of India and Pakistan on Saturday to bring the perpetrators of terrorist attacks in both countries to justice and work to defuse tensions in the region.

The meeting was organised by the South Asian Unity and Peace Forum (SAUPF) to express solidarity with the victims of Mumbai attacks.

The community and business leaders from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan asked their governments to lower tensions which could fuel hostilities between the nuclear rivals.

SAUPF president Syed Sadat Hassan in his remarks said that India and Pakistan must resolve the crises through peaceful dialogue.

Pakistani community leaders pointed out that their country was a major victim of terrorism in the region and accused India of meddling in Balochistan and NWFP provinces.

Most speakers at the meeting felt that Indian and Pakistani governments must make every effort to restart the peace process, increase people-to-people contact, trade, etc, and look into the complains each country have.

A resolution adopted at the meeting said: “This condolence meeting held to pay homage to the victims of terror attacks in Mumbai (India) condemns all such attacks of terrorism, which have claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent victims in both countries. We call upon the governments of India and Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the criminal acts to justice and defeat terrorists inhuman attacks in South Asia.”