NEW DELHI, Dec 19 Iran's deputy foreign minister urged Pakistan on Friday to boost its counter-terrorism efforts, three weeks after the attacks in Mumbai.

“Our Pakistani friends, they should also take the lessons and they should also deal with the terrorists in a very strong manner,” Mohammad Mehdi Akhondzadeh told reporters in New Delhi.

“I believe the Pakistan leadership could also make that strong commitment that they are not tolerating terrorist activities,” Akhondzadeh said.

Questioned on who Tehran believed to be responsible for the attacks in Mumbai, the minister refused to point the finger at any government or group.

India-Pakistan tensions have soared in the wake of the attacks, but Akhondzadeh stressed that the two nuclear-armed neighbours had long experience in steering a path through bilateral crises.—AFP