Delhi (AsiaNews) – The terrorist attack that struck Mumbai, India's economic hub, killing about 200 people and injuring more than 700 won't make India knell, nor will it divide the nation, which once again showed that its strength lay in the unity of its people, said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in an address to the nation broadcast live on all TV channels.

"Let me say, no one can make India kneel. No one can come in the path of our progress. The wheels of our economy will move on. India will continue to walk tall, and with confidence."

"This is not the first time that the enemies of our nation have tried to undermine our peace and prosperity. These elements have not yet understood that we Indians can stand united. That we will stand united. They have not yet understood that we will never let them win".

On the behalf of the government, Mr Singh said: "We will do all that is possible to help each of the families in distress. Mumbai stands tall once again as the symbol of a united India."

In the meantime, Foreign Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna replied to the tough statement released by the Pakistani government, which linked the Mumbai bombing to the outstanding disputes between Delhi and Islamabad.

"These remarks [by Pakistani Foreign Minister Kasuri] seem to suggest that Pakistan will cooperate with India against the scourge of cross-border terrorism and terrorist violence only if the so-called disputes are resolved," Sarna said.

"Terrorism cannot be tolerated on any ground. . . .  We would urge Pakistan to take urgent steps to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism on the territory under its control," he added.