US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice said in Islamabad today that Pakistan gave assurances that it would root out terrorism and round up anyone connected to last week's attack in the Indian city of Mumbai.
Dr Rice said the fight against terrorism was a "global struggle" in a news conference at the end of a brief visit to Pakistan aimed at curbing tensions between the two countries.
In a delicate balancing act, Dr Rice met Indian leaders yesterday in New Delhi, where she called for restraint. She said she had reasonable and responsible discussions in both capitals.
The sophistication of the attacks that killed 171 people in India's commercial capital was alarming and all sides had to work together to stop this kind of attack happening again, she said.
"Everybody wants to prevent further attacks," Dr Rice told a news conference at a military airfield before departing. "Pakistan, the Pakistani leadership, understands the importance of doing that, particularly in rooting out terrorism and rounding up whoever perpetrated this attack."
India, and US officials, have blamed groups based on Pakistani territory for the attack, but no accusations have been levelled at the Pakistani state or its agencies.
President Asif Ali Zardari told Dr Rice he had asked India to see this as a chance to work together rather than be at odds with one another, saying: "I intend to do everything in my power".
"The government will not only assist in investigations but also take strong action against any Pakistani elements found involved in the attack," a statement quoted Mr Zardari as saying. "Pakistan is determined to ensure that its territory is not used for any act of terrorism."
The prime suspect for the attacks in Mumbai is Lashkar-e-Taiba, a jihadi organisation fighting Indian rule in Kashmir that also has al-Qaeda links, and which analysts say has had ties with Pakistani intelligence in the past.
India today named two terrorists it suspects of masterminding the Mumbai massacre.
Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Yusuf Muzammil are members of Lashkar-e-Taiba and believed to be in Pakistan, officials said.
Lakhvi was identified as the group's operations chief and Muzammil as its operations chief in Kashmir and other parts of India.
The lone surviving gunman in the assault told police Lakhvi recruited him for the operation, and the attackers called Muzammil on a satellite phone after hijacking an Indian vessel en route to Mumbai.
During the attacks, the gunmen used mobile phones taken from hotel guests to place calls to the Pakistani city of Lahore.
Pakistan has condemned the assault, denied any involvement by state agencies and vowed to help the Indian investigation, but wants tangible proof of Pakistani involvement. Pakistan has also indicated it will not accept an Indian demand to hand over 20 most-wanted men said to be living there.
Meanwhile, India has declared a security alert at three major airports, including Delhi and Bangalore, and added extra checks to vehicles and luggage after warnings from intelligence agencies, officials said today.
Local television showed armed police guarding entrances to Delhi's international airport. Police cordons had also been set up outside the airport in the southern industrial city of Chennai. Indian television said the alert was issued after an email from Deccan Mujahideen, the same group that claimed responsibility for the Mumbai attacks.