New Delhi: Despite the great "restraint" shown by India after the Mumbai attacks by Pakistan-based militants, New Delhi could easily lose patience if there were a repeat attack, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Wednesday.
"India has responded with great restraint and statesmanship after the Mumbai terror attacks. But the ability to continue with it after another attack is under question--it is not reasonable to assume that Indian patience is unlimited in case of another attack," Gates said at a press conference in New Delhi after meeting Defence Minister A K Antony.
Gates said terror groups working together around the Afghanistan-Pakistan border benefit from each other's success and pose a threat to the entire region.
He listed several terror groups he says operate under the umbrella of al-Qaeda, including the Taliban and a separate group blamed for last year's deadly attack in Mumbai, India.
Gates says that when one group succeeds in carrying out an attack, all of them gain in capability and reputation.
Gates also says India and Pakistan should cooperate against a threat that affects them both. He urged both nations to speak frankly and help one another.
Gates' visit is the first high-level contact between the United States and India since Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was honored with the Obama administration's first full state visit and dinner in November.
Gates on Tuesday said he would encourage the Indian officials to expand defense, information-sharing and logistical agreements with Washington.
India is spending billions annually on US-made hardware, although Gates said current agreements prevent India from being able to buy some U.S. weaponry or technology.
(With inputs from IANS and The Associated Press)
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