Thursday, July 20 2006 09:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The US House of Representatives has unanimously condemned the wave of deadly violence that rocked Mumbai and declared its unwavering support by resolving to strengthen the newly-expanded relationship with India.

The resolution adopted (425-0) at the House expressed its 'deepest' condolences to the victims and the families of the July 11 Mumbai suburban train blasts.

Emphasising that the attack on India's financial hub was part of terrorists' 'determination' to cause 'economic terror' in the country, the resolution called upon the international community to renew and strengthen efforts to combat social evils that breed terrorism.

The resolution, sponsored by Congressmen Jospeh Crowley and Joseph Wilson, also urged countries to defeat terrorists by defeating their ideology and networks that train and carry out attacks.

Saluting the spirit displayed by the people during the hours of crisis, the resolution said, "The people of India quickly responded to the attack by turning out to donate blood, taking bed sheets to turn into stretchers and offering assistance and comfort to the victims of the attack."

The statement also recalled the historic July 18, 2005 agreement reached between the two countries on sharing nuclear energy and expressed its resolve to transform the relationship between the countries and establish a global partnership.

The discussions on the resolution saw members not only condemning the terror attacks but also hailing India's commitment to freedom, democracy and human rights.

Crowley, the co-sponsor of the resolution, said shared values of India and the United States have made both the countries targets to those who wish to see an end to democracy and modern society.

"By targeting Mumbai trains, the perpetrators hoped to accomplish the maximum bloodshed through this cowardly attack on the innocent," he said adding India remained a strong ally of the US in the global fight against terrorism and that will never be forgotten.

In her floor statement, House minority leader Nancy Pelosi commended India's love for freedom and commitment to democracy and said both the countries will stand against those who disdain human life.

Underlining the blooming relationship between the two countries, the top Democrat lawmaker said the resolution was a strong testament to the shared values and friendship, which bind both India and the US.



"We in the United States came through a generation ago a civil rights movement that was inspired by the spirit of non-violence, which was led in India by Mahatma Gandhi. Our own Martin Luther King visited India to learn about non-violence, and we all know what a tremendous impact it had on succeeding in advancing civil rights in our own country.



"We will be forever in debt to India for that magnificent contribution to our own social progress in the United States," Pelosi said.

Democrat lawmaker and Ranking Member of the House International Relations Committee Tom Lantos said, "Just over a week ago, barbarism boarded seven trains in Mumbai and turned them into a horror show."

"As we in Congress move ahead with efforts to improve the geo-strategic relationship with India, we now have fresh incentive to forge ever closer ties. At a time such as this, we consider what our two great democracies have in common our values, our aspirations, our hopes, and our respect for human life," Lantos said.

"Let us reaffirm today that the terrorists will not succeed. The civilized and peace-loving nations of the world are joining forces to combat this evil ideology. Good will prevail; Life will triumph over death," he said.

"Together, India and the United States will hold aloft the bright beacon of democracy and freedom to lead the way...this is far from the first such incident in India. Let it be the last. And let us send an unequivocal message that we stand with our brothers and sisters in India in the face of the barbarous onslaught in Mumbai," Lantos said.

Democratic lawmaker from New York Eliot Engel said, "Although the investigation is still ongoing, I understand that India has said it suspects that a Pakistan-based Kashmiri militant group carried out the bombings."

While I appreciate Musharaff's condemnation of the recent Mumbai bombings, in the past, the Pakistan Government has helped support terrorist groups opposed to India," the law maker said stressing that unless the Pakistan reforms, it is far too soon to proceed with any sale of F-16s.

"Pakistan has not moved forward with promises of democracy, fighting its internal extremists, or enforcing human rights. Pakistan also has a history of diverting technology to rogue states, and has still not let US interrogators question A Q Khan, the Pakistani former head of an international nuclear black market. Under no circumstances should the United States give Pakistan a blank check," Engel said.