US, UK condemn terror in J&K

NEW DELHI: The United States and United Kingdom have strongly condemned the recent attacks by militants in Jammu and Kashmir saying that there can be no justification for such evil acts.
"We condemn the brutal terrorist attacks that have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir in the past several days," a communique from the US embassy here said. It went on to add, "As the Bush Administration has said many times, there can be no justification for such evil acts. In the context of the global war on terrorism, the US is committed to a permanent end of terrorism against India.
"The international community must have zero tolerance for terrorism. Working with other like-minded nations, we will continue our efforts until all terrorism is stopped," it said.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, condemning the attacks, spoke to External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha on Tuesday night and expressed his deep condolences to the families of those who have died in the recent terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir.
A spate of militant attacks struck Jammu and Kashmir since Monday night. On Tuesday morning two rebels managed to shoot dead seven soldiers before they themselves were gunned down at an army camp in Akhnoor.
When top military officers visited the site later, a third militant who had remained holed-up for nearly seven hours rushed out, lobbed grenades, opened fire with an automatic weapon and then blew himself up.
The commander of the Indian army in Kashmir, Lieutenant General Hari Prasad, and two other generals were injured. Brigadier V K Govil died.
Tuesday''s bloody raid came just hours after a grenade attack on a crowd of pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Vaishno Devi near Katra, which left seven devotees dead.