Sri Lanka says no Indian hand in Lahore attacks

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Monday rejected reports that neighbouring India may have been involved in the militant attack against the island's national cricket team in Pakistan.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said Pakistan has promised an interim report on last Tuesday's Lahore assault, in which seven players and the assistant coach were injured and six Pakistan policemen and two civilians killed.

"From our point of view, there is no Indian involvement," he said in response to media speculation that New Delhi had links to the ambush in an attempt to discredit its nuclear-armed neighbour Pakistan.

"India has helped us in our counter-terrorist efforts. I don't see a need for India to target the Sri Lankan cricket team," Bogollagama said.

Media reports had speculated that India's external intelligence agency might have had a hand in the Lahore attacks in a tit-for-tat retaliation for the November siege in Mumbai.

Bogollagama said Pakistan was investigating the Lahore incident where unknown gunmen fired automatic weapons, grenades and a rocket launcher on the team bus, officials and coaches on their way to the second Test in Lahore.

"We are not ruling out links with the LTTE. The LTTE are known to have links with international terrorist groups. Our initial suspicions are on the LTTE," Bogollagama said.