NEW DELHI - INDIAN on Monday formally accused 'elements' in Pakistan of being behind the Islamic militant attacks in Mumbai and demanded that Islamabad take 'strong action', the foreign ministry said.

'The High Commissioner of Pakistan was called to the Ministry of External Affairs this evening. He was informed that the recent terrorist attack on Mumbai was carried out by elements from Pakistan,' a statement said.

In New Delhi's first formal complaint to Islamabad, India said it 'expects that strong action would be taken against those elements, whosoever they may be, responsible for this outrage'.

India's foreign ministry has said investigations have shown that all the militants involved in the Mumbai attacks were Pakistani nationals.

Pakistan's government has denied it was in any way linked to the atrocities, which left over 170 dead and close to 300 wounded.

India handed over the written protest just hours after New Delhi warned the carnage in Mumbai was a major setback for the peace process launched by the South Asian neighbours in 2004. -- AFP