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NEW DELHI, Sept 12 (Reuters) - India on Wednesday said it stood ready to cooperate with the United States in tracking down those behind the terror attacks in New York and Washington.

"We stand ready to cooperate with you in the investigations into this crime and strengthen our partnership...to ensure that terrorism never succeeds again," said Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in a letter U.S. President George W. Bush.

U.S. officials said on Wednesday there were indications the attackers had links to Saudi-exile Osama bin Laden, who has found refuge in Afghanistan.

India's traditional rival Pakistan, which New Delhi regards as responsible for supporting a Muslim rebellion in disputed Kashmir, is one of only three countries which recognise Afghanistan's current rulers, the Taliban.

Police in the Indian capital in June arrested four people including a Sudanese national on suspicion of plotting to bomb U.S. embassies in India and neighbouring Bangladesh.

Police said then that the men planned to detonate a car bomb at the heavily guarded U.S. embassy in New Delhi.

India and United States, which were once on opposite sides of the Cold War, have in recent months begun cooperating in tackling terrorism following an upswing in bilateral ties.

"This dark hour is a stark and terrible reminder of the power and reach of terrorists to destroy innocent lives and challenge the civilised order in this world," Vajpayee's letter said.

India has repeatedly expressed concern about terrorism, particularly what it calls state-supported terrorism in Kashmir.

India has been struggling to quell a nearly 12-year-old revolt in the Muslim-majority Himalayan region and holds Pakistan responsible for fomenting the rebellion.

Islamabad denies the charge, saying it only supports self-determination for the Kashmiri people.

The Economic Times newspaper said the terror bombings in the U.S. could lead to greater cooperation between the world's two biggest democracies.

"There is expected to be a strategic coming-together between India and the U.S. to tackle the menace," the newspaper said.

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