The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, New Delhi

Indian Premier Manmohan Singh said Thursday that India would work with the international community to deny militants "launching pads" for attacks, and that they would not destabilise the country.

"There are some who would not like to see India succeed but we have shown over and over that we will not allow the forces of terrorism and extremism to destabilise our economy and society," Singh told a gathering in Chennai.

Earlier this week New Delhi gave Islamabad what it said was evidence that the gunmen behind the November attacks on Mumbai had direct instructions from elements in Pakistan. After weeks of denial, Pakistan on Wednesday confirmed that the lone surviving gunman from the siege, Mohammed Ajmal Amir Iman, also known as Kasab, was a Pakistani citizen.

India's foreign minister criticised what he said was inconsistent and vague statements coming from Pakistan.

"We have seen a consistent flip-flop in the reaction of the government in Islamabad," Pranab Mukherjee told the same meeting in Chennai.

He also slammed Pakistan's "recalcitrance" in bringing to justice its nationals accused of involvement in the Mumbai attacks.

India has said that diplomacy is the best way to convince Pakistan to crack down on Islamic militancy, but tensions between the two nuclear-armed rivals have nonetheless escalated since the events in Mumbai, which killed 165 people.