US condemns BSF deaths

The United States today condemned the brutal terrorist attack on a bus killing BSF personnel and their family members in Jammu and Kashmir. US Ambassador to India David Mulford said Washington was ‘‘committed’’ to the permanent end of terrorism against India.

‘‘As the Bush administration has said many times, there can be no justification for such acts. The global war on terrorism will not be won until such atrocities end against all countries,’’ Mulford said in a statement here.

‘‘The US is committed to the permanent end of terrorism against India. As we have said repeatedly, violence will not resolve the problems of Jammu and Kashmir,’’ he said offering his sympathy to the victims and hope the terrorists would be brought to justice swiftly.

Later in the day, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw spoke to the new External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and congratulated him on his assumption of office.