Lanka against Pakistan isolation

COLOMBO (Agencies) - Sri Lanka has told the United States that it would oppose any move to isolate Pakistan over the attack carried out on Lankan cricketers in Lahore on March 3, reports Hindustan Times. Several Lankan cricketers were injured on their way to Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the second Test match when armed gunmen fired and lobbed grenades at the bus the cricketers were travelling. "The Minister (Rohitha Bogollagama) categorically expressed Sri Lanka's firm opposition to isolate Pakistan in the sporting arena or in any manner internationally over this incident," a Lankan Foreign Ministry statement said on Saturday. Bogollagama conveyed the message during a phone conversation with United States of America Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Richard Boucher, late on Friday. Bogollagama briefed Boucher on the discussions he had held with Pakistani leaders in Islamabad, including President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi during his Pakistan visit after the attack. Boucher offered US assistance into the investigation. Bogollagama informed Boucher that he was satisfied with the assurances given by the Pakistani leadership that no effort will be spared to apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice. "Moreover, the Pakistani leaders had offered to share complete details of their investigation with the Sri Lankan authorities," the statement said. The Lankan FM said that it was not possible to rule out the role of the LTTE in the terror attack, given the high degree of sophistication of the planning and the evidence of a nexus between terrorist groups worldwide.

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