As tensions between India and Pakistan continue to soar US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday said the US has told Pakistan to help in the investigation of Mumbai terror attacks in "the most committed and firmest possible way".

"What we're emphasising to the Pakistani Government is the need to follow the evidence wherever it leads, and to do that in the most committed and firmest possible way," said Rice.

"And on all scores, the Pakistanis have emphasised their desire to get to the bottom of this and to help in any way that they can," she added.

"I don't want to jump to any conclusions myself on this but I do think that this is a time for complete, absolute, total transparency and co-operation and that is what we expect [from Pakistan]," said Rice.

Barack Obama, the US president-elect, when asked whether India would be justified in launching attacks against alleged terrorist targets in Pakistan a right he has claimed for the US when discussing the fight against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, tried to evade the question.

"Sovereign nations obviously have a right to protect themselves; beyond that I don't want to comment on the specific situation that's taking place in south Asia right now," he said. "My administration will remain steadfast in support of India's efforts to catch the perpetrators of this terrible act and bring them to justice."