As a "further demonstration" of solidarity with the Indian government in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks, President George Bush has asked the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to travel to India this Wednesday.
"President Bush has asked Secretary Rice to travel to India this week in the wake of the terror attacks that killed nearly 200 people, including 6 American citizens.
"Secretary Rice will depart tonight on already scheduled travel to London. She will attend the NATO meeting on Tuesday and then proceed to India arriving in New Delhi on Wednesday," the White House Press Secretary Dana Perino has said in a Statement issued last evening.
"Secretary Rice's visit to India is a further demonstration of the United States' commitment to stand in solidarity with the people of India as we all work together to hold these extremists accountable," Perino added.
Rice's tour to New Delhi will follow the Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon's two-day scheduled visit to Washington beginning today.
Menon will have talks with his counterpart in the State Department Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns.
High-level sources told PTI that Menon's visit will cover the gamut of the bilateral relations but Mumbai terror attacks will give further significance to the talks.
Menon is also expected to meet people in the President- elect Barack Obama's team as also with other law makers, Senators and members in the House of Representatives.
READ ALL ABOUT MUMBAI ATTACKED
BUSH CALLS UP PM: Earlier, Bush told Manmohan Singh that American agencies will throw their weight behind India's investigation into the Mumbai terror attacks and demonstrate a "shared commitment" to combat terrorism.
In his second telephone call to Singh since the terror siege began in Mumbai, Bush said the US will work together with the international community to bring the perpetrators of the terror act to book.
Bush told Singh that "out of this tragedy can come an opportunity to hold these extremists accountable and demonstrate the world's shared commitment to combat terrorism," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in a statement.
"President Bush told the prime minister that he has directed the state and defence departments along with other federal agencies to devote the necessary resources and personnel to this situation," Johndroe said.
Expressing solidarity with the people of India, as they recover from the unprecedented terror strikes that killed close to 200 people including several foreigners, "Bush again expressed our deepest condolences," he said.
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