Qaida-Taliban's links with LeT worry India

[echarcha]

The horse has left the barn! India now worries about Al Qaeeda and Taliban ties with Lashkar-e-Taiba

All this time we did nothing. We should have been beating the drums at the UN and US doorsteps ages ago. Maybe we should have done something daring to bomb the LeT training grounds on the basis that LeT is sending terrorists across the border into Kashmir. Now we just have to worry about the coming wave of terrorism at the hands of a powerful terrorist trinity - Al Qaeeda, Taliban and LeT!

Qaida-Taliban's links with LeT worry India
13 Mar 2009, 0100 hrs IST, Rajeev Deshpande, TNN


NEW DELHI: The emerging operational links between al-Qaida-Taliban and Pakistan's Punjab-centric jihadi groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish are a serious concern for India as these groups begin to use elements of Qaida's strategic thinking and planning in terror attacks on the Indian mainland.

The "hand" of al-Qaida was detected in the Mumbai attacks with regard to the direct and bold launch of marine jihadis and the targeting of a little-known Jewish enclave besides the high-profile Taj and Oberoi hotels. The Qaida link has not been established but 26/11 did mark a quantum jump in LeT's tactics and objectives.

The attacks were a global debut for Lashkar and security agencies have since followed the coalescing of "Punjabi" groups with the al-Qaida incorporated by way of satellite intercepts and on-ground intelligence. The Qaida core itself has shrunk but the expertise of its Egyptian leaders like Ayman Zawahiri has filtered through to jihadi groups who now seem to be the sword arms of Osama bin Laden's outfit.

Sources conversant with developments said while the Taliban-al-Qaida was occupied with its current project to bring the Pakistani state to its knees and establish control over swathes of territory, it was a matter of time before India faced the full brunt of their ascendancy. As with their larger partners, Lashkar and Jaish agendas are hardly limited to Kashmir as they see India as part of a US-led axis.

Having identified India as a target will also mean Kashmir may come under added pressure as terrorists, who have chaffed over curbs imposed on border crossings by Pakistan army, press for increased freedom of action. They are strongly questioning the "double standards" of the army in not really opposing the Taliban while keeping their movements under check under US pressure.

The checks on jihadis operating in Kashmir have always been partial at best as the temperature in the Valley is carefully monitored by Pakistani agencies. But electronic eavesdropping has repeatedly revealed impatience among jihadis waiting to cross over and unhappiness with their Pakistani handlers. As the Taliban and its allies consolidate their control in FATA, the northwest provinces and Swat, Kashmir may well feel the heat.

It is felt that the Pakistan army's ambivalence over acting tough with Taliban will remain as it sees the jihadi force regaining control of Afghanistan soon enough and would not alienate long-term partners. Despite the disastrous consequences of its pursuit of "strategic depth" in Afghanistan, the army is not expected to junk the doctrine. Having ensured Taliban is replenished from bases in Pakistan, the army has made the war in Afghanistan unwinnable for US and its allies.

An important ingredient of the Taliban strategy has been to feed the "jihad" in Kashmir and this objective remains high on the priority list of Pakistani agencies. The remarks of former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf during his visit to India are revealing as they reflect the military mindset that unless Kashmir is resolved — in accordance to its wishes — terror strikes would continue.

Indian security agencies agree that the Pakistan army could well end up being too clever by half, but it is finding it difficult to explain the rationale for opposing the Taliban's politico-religious objectives as these are in good measure represented by the "Islamic" strand in the military's own DNA.

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[gayaguzra#1]

what shud worry India is its impotence!!!

[DesiBaba]

what worry saar..saarry..wee vaaary bussy fighting over nothie & southie jobs..

what do you expect to happen in/to a country whos national unity itself is questionable

[gayaguzra#1]

absolutely right DB, we are so divided by region, religion, caste, language and what not.

[milanfanabhi]

Originally Posted by gayaguzra#1

absolutely right DB, we are so divided by region, religion, caste, language and what not.

lets not forget the muslims in india who are ready to support let and al- qaeda

[echarcha]

Originally Posted by gayaguzra#1

absolutely right DB, we are so divided by region, religion, caste, language and what not.

Dont give the same old apologist reply that we are divided over caste blah blah. Yes we are, but when it comes to external aggression we all get together as evidenced as recent as the Kargil war. Yes even Muslims support us, but there are surely many Muslims who hoist the Pakistani flags in their dreams.

[Sane Less]

Originally Posted by echarcha

Dont give the same old apologist reply that we are divided over caste blah blah. Yes we are, but when it comes to external aggression we all get together as evidenced as recent as the Kargil war. Yes even Muslims support us, but there are surely many Muslims who hoist the Pakistani flags in their dreams.

You should not write such inflammatory and truly false statements. It is not the pukestani flag that they want to hoist... it is the islamic flag... and not some... but all. That is their "rai·son d'ê·tre".

[sgars]

Originally Posted by echarcha

Dont give the same old apologist reply that we are divided over caste blah blah. Yes we are, but when it comes to external aggression we all get together as evidenced as recent as the Kargil war. Yes even Muslims support us, but there are surely many Muslims who hoist the Pakistani flags in their dreams.

Just wondering, in 2 more months, it willl be 10 uears.

Wonder what Capt Anuj Nayyar's pitaji is doing after trying to get a petrol pump honestly. guess Capt Kalia's folks are still on a low key trying to 'get justice'.

i still remember, one of those nights ii was sleeping and in the middle of the night woke up and was thinking that these guys are actually fighting for our end around the same time i was cosily lying in the bed...

more later on.

[gayaguzra#1]

Originally Posted by echarcha

Dont give the same old apologist reply that we are divided over caste blah blah. Yes we are, but when it comes to external aggression we all get together as evidenced as recent as the Kargil war. Yes even Muslims support us, but there are surely many Muslims who hoist the Pakistani flags in their dreams.

well dont you think pukistan should not be the ONLY reason to keep this country united.Even let's assume we are united only to counter pukistan, have we effectively countered them? they have become a nuke power, they have a strong military for their size and most important of all when pukistan launches these terror attacks why are we so helpless? where is our unity gone? how come the anger disappears in a few days and its business as normal? If we are so united against pukistan how come the janta can take blow after blow? how come we have not strengthed our borders, drastically reduce infiltration, strengthen our intelligence machinery to detect and prevent these attacks, keep a tight vigil. point is again we are divided by politics of region/religion and for what ever reason.

Let me ask you a question? say tomorrow an educated/honest guy gets into politics and wants to genuinely good? do you think our educated janta will go and back him to the hilt? its a different story for illiterate folks. These educated janta will not get their ass from their chairs to go and vote and back him when he needs their support the most. That is why you dont see such ppl entering politics, cause good janta wont support the god candidates

we may be better off now when compared to banana republics but we will never arise above current levels and we will remain a 3rd world country. we will be fighting one insurgency over the other endlessly....

Also Pawar claims that it is the time a maharashtrian takes the office of PM meaning he wants the seat then we have mayawati who wants to the PM and then Jayalalitha saying she wants to the PM. These are the gr8 elite leaders our country produces!!! mera bharat mahan