India blames Pakistan for car bombing Powell considers a "heinous act'

By EUN-KYUNG KIM
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Colin Powell on Tuesday called a car bombing outside the Indian legislature an act of terrorism. Indian leaders, meanwhile, blamed the explosion on Pakistan, a nation crucial to the U.S. campaign against terrorism.

With Indian Defense Minister Jaswant Singh by his side, Powell expressed condolences over the suicide bombing Monday in Kashmir. He referred to the attack as "a terrible terrorist act, that heinous act" against innocent civilians. The blast has killed 40 people so far and wounded 60.

"It is this kind of terrorism that we are united against," Powell said.

India blames the attack on Pakistan, a nation whose cooperation the United States needs to hunt down Osama bin Laden, the top suspect in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Bin Laden is being sheltered in Afghanistan, which borders Pakistan.

A Pakistan-based militant group fighting for the independence of Indian-held Kashmir claimed responsibility after the explosion.

On Tuesday, India's prime minister sent President Bush a letter accusing Pakistan of lying when it says there are no terrorist groups operating from its territory.

"There is a limit to the patience of the people of India," Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee wrote in his letter, which contained no specific request for action from Bush.

Singh was more subdued in his comments about Pakistan.

"If Pakistan were to abandon the path of violence and of terrorism and join the rest of the international community in this fight against this evil, it would be a development that India would welcome," he said during his joint news conference with Powell.

Singh spent Monday in New York with Mayor Rudolph Giuliani touring the rubble of the World Trade Center. About 200 Indian citizens died in the attacks.

He then headed to Washington, where he met with Bush and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.

AP-WS-10-02-01 1720EDT