New Delhi  - US Secretary of State State Condoleezza Rice arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following last week's Mumbai terrorist attacks.

Rice was scheduled to meet with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and opposition leader LK Advani in the afternoon.

Rice said the chief purpose of her visit was to "express solidarity" with the people of India.

The government is expected to brief her on details of evidence against Pakistan, including intercepted records of satellite phones used by the attackers, local media reported.

Indian police have blamed Muslim militant groups based in Pakistan for the attack while New Delhi mounted pressure on its neighbour to act against the suspected masterminds.

On Monday, India summoned the Pakistan envoy to New Delhi Shahid Malik to inform him the Mumbai attacks were carried out by elements based in Pakistan and demand action.

Investigations into the terrorist attacks, including interrogation of a captured gunman, pointed to Lashkar-e-Taiba, an Islamic militant group based in Pakistan, media reports said.

Pakistan rejected the allegation and asked Delhi not to indulge in a blame game.

Pakistani officials had earlier warned that heightened tensions with India could force Pakistan to withdraw troops from the Afghan front.

According to Indian police, 188 people were killed and more than 300 injured as the terrorists fired automatic weapons and lobbed grenades in chosen locations across south Mumbai, including two posh hotels, the city's main railway station and a Jewish centre.

The gun-battles between the security forces continued from late Wednesday to Saturday. (dpa)