Aus asks Pak to take action against Lashkar

Agencies

Islamabad: Australia today asked Pakistan to take action against the Lashker-e-Taiba and bring to book perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, who arrived here on a three-day visit, said Pakistan has to do "more" and India's confidence would be "part of the test" of whether Islamabad is doing enough to control terrorism within its borders.

"Well, Lashker-e-Taiba... Needs to be brought under control," Smith told Australian Broadcasting Corporation before departing for Pakistan.

"It's quite clear that the LeT was involved in the terrible attack on Mumbai and the perpetrators themselves need to be brought to justice to build confidence back between India and Pakistan and then to start the constructive dialogue between India and Pakistan," he said.

Describing Pakistan's response to the Indian dossier on the Mumbai attacks as "welcome," and said: "But we think there's more that Pakistan has to do." Asked how he would judge if Pakistan is doing enough to control terrorism, Smith replied: "Well, part of the test will be the confidence that India has... The test will be, what is India's perception or India's view, which is why I say and Australia says we need to ensure that what Pakistan does rebuild confidence with India."