Thursday, February 23, 2012
U.S. “concerned” about LeT rally
From The Hindu
To a question on whether the United States had raised with Pakistan its view on the Difa-e-Pakistan Council rally in Karachi last week, the State Department said it was “concerned about the recent public appearances of Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader Hafiz Saeed,” at the rally.
Pointing out that the Lashkar-e-Taiba and its front group Jamaat-ud-Dawa were internationally sanctioned because of their associations with al-Qaeda, a State Department spokesperson said, “We have and continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to uphold its obligations in accordance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1267/1989. That resolution calls for all countries to freeze assets of sanctioned groups, prevent the transfer of arms to them, and prevent sanctioned individuals from entering or transiting their territories.”
In comments to The Hindu Lisa Curtis, Senior Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, a think tank based in Washington, said, “It is reprehensible and irresponsible on the part of Pakistani authorities to permit JuD leader Hafiz Saeed to hold political rallies. The U.S. and the U.N. have recognised JuD as a front organisation for the Lashkar-eTayyiba, responsible for the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai...”
Ms. Curtis cautioned that allowing Saeed to operate freely was not only damaging to Indo-Pakistani peace efforts, but it “casts overall doubt on Pakistan's commitment to fighting international terrorism.” She said when Pakistani authorities permitted terrorist leaders to operate openly and conduct rallies, they were undercutting Pakistan's counterterrorism credentials.
Especially in the light of the court testimony by David Headley, which indicated Pakistani intelligence service involvement in the Mumbai attacks, Ms. Curtis said, “It is even more unbelievable that Pakistani officials would allow Saeed this kind of political space.”
To a question on whether the United States had raised with Pakistan its view on the Difa-e-Pakistan Council rally in Karachi last week, the State Department said it was “concerned about the recent public appearances of Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader Hafiz Saeed,” at the rally.
Pointing out that the Lashkar-e-Taiba and its front group Jamaat-ud-Dawa were internationally sanctioned because of their associations with al-Qaeda, a State Department spokesperson said, “We have and continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to uphold its obligations in accordance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1267/1989. That resolution calls for all countries to freeze assets of sanctioned groups, prevent the transfer of arms to them, and prevent sanctioned individuals from entering or transiting their territories.”
In comments to The Hindu Lisa Curtis, Senior Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, a think tank based in Washington, said, “It is reprehensible and irresponsible on the part of Pakistani authorities to permit JuD leader Hafiz Saeed to hold political rallies. The U.S. and the U.N. have recognised JuD as a front organisation for the Lashkar-eTayyiba, responsible for the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai...”
Ms. Curtis cautioned that allowing Saeed to operate freely was not only damaging to Indo-Pakistani peace efforts, but it “casts overall doubt on Pakistan's commitment to fighting international terrorism.” She said when Pakistani authorities permitted terrorist leaders to operate openly and conduct rallies, they were undercutting Pakistan's counterterrorism credentials.
Especially in the light of the court testimony by David Headley, which indicated Pakistani intelligence service involvement in the Mumbai attacks, Ms. Curtis said, “It is even more unbelievable that Pakistani officials would allow Saeed this kind of political space.”
Labels: Hafiz Saeed, JuD, LeT
Saturday, November 05, 2011
For LeT, India remains the “primary target”: U.S.
From The Hindu
A report by the United States Department of Defence submitted to Congress this week suggested that India remained the “primary target” of LeT, the militant group from Pakistan that is held responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
This assessment, contained in the Report to Congress on U.S.-India Security Cooperation, was accompanied by strong arguments made in favour of deepening India-U.S. cooperation in the defence sector.
Key among these arguments was the suggestion that the U.S. ought to share “top-of-the-line technology” with India, as exemplified by the case of the U.S. Joint Strike Fighter programme. According to the DoD the JSF, also known as the F-35 Lightning II Programme, has advanced airframe, autonomic logistics, avionics, propulsion systems, stealth, and firepower, which will “ensure that the F-35 is the most affordable, lethal, supportable and survivable aircraft ever to be used by so many war-fighters across the globe.”
In this context the DoD report indicated that although the U.S.’ F-16 and F-18 were not down-selected, in the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition in April 2011, “Should India indicate interest in the JSF, the U.S. would be prepared to provide information on the JSF and its requirements... to support India’s future planning.”
In the vital area of counterterrorism cooperation the DoD report noted that LeT’s activities “continue to threaten U.S. interests and South Asian regional stability,” and hence the U.S. would join with key partners such as India, “to expand counterterrorism cooperation... and our current special operations engagements in the region will continue to focus on the mutually beneficial ways in which we can enhance each other’s capabilities.”
In addition to expanding defence trade and armaments cooperation the DoD report argued that there was a continuing case for bolstering military-to-military engagements. In addition to counterterrorism cooperation this imperative would require continued focus on combined exercises, personnel exchanges and training, maritime domain awareness, countering piracy humanitarian assistance, disaster response and relief and naval and coast guard cooperation, the report noted.
Labels: 26/11 attacks, India, Indo-U.S. relations, LeT, mumbai terror, primary target, U.S. Congress, U.S. State Department
Sunday, April 24, 2011
U.S. ‘worried' over possible terror attack in India
From The Hindu
The United States is “worried” about the prospect of a terror attack in India “right now,” according to Robert Blake, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, in particular from groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba.
In a recent interview in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Mr. Blake said, “We think that groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba are looking for opportunities and countries through which they can infiltrate into India.”
Touching upon counter-terrorism coordination between key South Asian nations, Mr. Blake added that from the U.S.' perspective, the bilateral cooperation between countries has been “pretty good, with the possible exception of Pakistan.”
High priority
Arguing that such coordination, however, was “a very high priority for India and for Pakistan,” the Assistant Secretary said that the U.S. was very encouraged that the two nations' Home Ministers were going to meet on March 28.
“We hope that that can get counter-terrorism cooperation back on a more solid footing,” Mr. Blake said.
The United States is “worried” about the prospect of a terror attack in India “right now,” according to Robert Blake, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, in particular from groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba.
In a recent interview in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Mr. Blake said, “We think that groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba are looking for opportunities and countries through which they can infiltrate into India.”
Touching upon counter-terrorism coordination between key South Asian nations, Mr. Blake added that from the U.S.' perspective, the bilateral cooperation between countries has been “pretty good, with the possible exception of Pakistan.”
High priority
Arguing that such coordination, however, was “a very high priority for India and for Pakistan,” the Assistant Secretary said that the U.S. was very encouraged that the two nations' Home Ministers were going to meet on March 28.
“We hope that that can get counter-terrorism cooperation back on a more solid footing,” Mr. Blake said.
Labels: intelligence sharing, LeT, War on terror
Monday, December 06, 2010
Lashkar militants planned attack on Narendra Modi
From The Hindu
Lashkar-e-Taiba militants were planning “operations... involving a car,” against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, according to a recent secret diplomatic cable of the United States State Department released by WikiLeaks, a whistleblower website.
The cable, created on June 19 2009, was sent from the office of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to “Security Officer, Collective Priority,” and the U.S. embassies in Tripoli, Casablanca and Johannesburg. Some of the information in the cable had been redacted by WikiLeaks, yet it bore Ms. Clinton’s name at the end and was categorised as “Secret,” “No Foreign,” and it was “derived from multiple sources.”
Under the category of “key concerns,” the notes on LeT member Shafiq Khan, and alternatively a person identified only as “Hussein,” said that they continued operational planning on three tasks in early June of 2009.
These plans were associated with a “possible operation against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendar Modi, the establishment of a training camp, and unspecified work involving a car.”
The cable added that Hussein would coordinate his activities with an India-based colleague identified as Sameer.
Providing some geographic information for the operations, the cable further said that the Pakistan-based Shafiq Khafa had been seeking out information on possible training sites for the operations in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. It added that Khafa had an associate identified as “S.J.” with whom he was making these preparations in mid-June.
Quoting a “credible tearline,” or segment of an intelligence source, the cable went on to note that Khafa’s network was “striving to stand up two teams in southern India that rely on the support of LeT members based in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Nepal.”
However it cautioned that although specific details of planned LeT attacks remained unknown, intelligence obtained in late May of that year indicated that “Khafa’s cells were engaged in surveillance activities of potential targets, likely in southern India.”
Reports in May further suggested a Sri Lanka link, explaining that the establishment of a facilitation team in that country might then lead to Kerala or Tamil Nadu being used as a base of operations.
“The estimated time of completion for setting up the facilitation route and camps to be two to three months,” the cable said.
Labels: cablegate, Gujarat Chief Minister, LeT, Narendra Modi, terrorism, U.S. secret cables, Wikileaks
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Pakistan should rein in LeT: Blake
From The Hindu
Pakistan would not be acting in its own interests if it endangered the United States by failing to rein in Lashkar-e-Taiba, Robert Blake, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, on Friday suggested.
In an interview Mr. Blake said, “Lashkar-e-Taiba is a terrorist group based in Pakistan that has increasingly global ambitions and global scope… and so it’s in the interest of Pakistan to rein in the activities of LeT.”
Signalling growing concerns in the U.S. over the LeT’s capacity to target locations outside South Asia, Mr. Blake’s comments came a day after a hearing on Capitol Hill at which Congressmen noted that “The LeT has put the world on notice that they intend to escalate the carnage and spread it worldwide.”
Touching upon the first Indo-Pakistan talks since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Mr. Blake said, “We do believe that one of the most important things to work on is this issue of terrorism, because, I think, it’s something that threatens not only both of these countries but also the United States.”
Mr. Blake explained that in addition to a significant increase in U.S. civilian assistance, the U.S. has also been “helping the Pakistani military to reorient itself from its historical focus on India and the threat that might have been posed by India, towards improving its counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist capabilities, so that it can really grapple and deal with the challenges in its border areas.”
He said that there could never be success in stabilising Afghanistan without the full participation of Pakistan.
Obama “committed” to India nuclear agreement
On the question of the civilian nuclear agreement between the U.S. and India, Mr. Blake affirmed that “The United States, under President Obama, remains very much committed to the nuclear agreement that was signed under President Bush, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.”
Pointing out that “very important talks on reprocessing” were under way, he said that he expected the discussions to be completed “well before” the deadline of August 2010.
He also emphasised that the U.S. was very much hoping that the Indian government will proceed with a very important legislation on nuclear liability, and was gratified to learn that the President of India has announced India’s intention to introduce this bill in the current session of Parliament.
“We’ll be following the progress of that legislation very closely,” Mr. Blake said, adding that the U.S.’s ultimate goal was to allow the export of nuclear reactors to India.
Pakistan would not be acting in its own interests if it endangered the United States by failing to rein in Lashkar-e-Taiba, Robert Blake, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, on Friday suggested.
In an interview Mr. Blake said, “Lashkar-e-Taiba is a terrorist group based in Pakistan that has increasingly global ambitions and global scope… and so it’s in the interest of Pakistan to rein in the activities of LeT.”
Signalling growing concerns in the U.S. over the LeT’s capacity to target locations outside South Asia, Mr. Blake’s comments came a day after a hearing on Capitol Hill at which Congressmen noted that “The LeT has put the world on notice that they intend to escalate the carnage and spread it worldwide.”
Touching upon the first Indo-Pakistan talks since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Mr. Blake said, “We do believe that one of the most important things to work on is this issue of terrorism, because, I think, it’s something that threatens not only both of these countries but also the United States.”
Mr. Blake explained that in addition to a significant increase in U.S. civilian assistance, the U.S. has also been “helping the Pakistani military to reorient itself from its historical focus on India and the threat that might have been posed by India, towards improving its counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist capabilities, so that it can really grapple and deal with the challenges in its border areas.”
He said that there could never be success in stabilising Afghanistan without the full participation of Pakistan.
Obama “committed” to India nuclear agreement
On the question of the civilian nuclear agreement between the U.S. and India, Mr. Blake affirmed that “The United States, under President Obama, remains very much committed to the nuclear agreement that was signed under President Bush, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.”
Pointing out that “very important talks on reprocessing” were under way, he said that he expected the discussions to be completed “well before” the deadline of August 2010.
He also emphasised that the U.S. was very much hoping that the Indian government will proceed with a very important legislation on nuclear liability, and was gratified to learn that the President of India has announced India’s intention to introduce this bill in the current session of Parliament.
“We’ll be following the progress of that legislation very closely,” Mr. Blake said, adding that the U.S.’s ultimate goal was to allow the export of nuclear reactors to India.
Labels: Barack Obama, insurgency, LeT, Manmohan Singh, Mumbai attacks, Robert Blake
Friday, March 12, 2010
U.S. should take LeT threat 'very very seriously': Ackerman
From The Hindu
In an unmistakable sign of rising concern in the United States over the expansive reach of the militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Congressional hearing on Thursday emphasised the urgent need to “crush” the group.
Gary Ackerman, Chairman of the hearing, “Bad Company: Lashkar e-Taiba and the Growing Ambition of Islamist Militancy in Pakistan”, said that in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks in 2008, investigation of computer records and email accounts revealed 320 locations worldwide deemed to be possible targets of LeT attacks, of which only 20 targets were located in India.
Highlighting the relationship between the LeT and the Pakistani military, Mr. Ackerman said the LeT was a deadly group of “fanatics” and the U.S. ought to take this threat “very, very seriously.”
Ms. Lisa Curtis, Senior Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation and expert witness testifying at the hearing, said, “It has been a failure of U.S. policy to not insist Pakistan shut down the LeT long ago. U.S. officials have shied away from pressuring Pakistan on the LeT in the interest of garnering Pakistani cooperation against targets the U.S. believed were more critical to immediate U.S. objectives, i.e., al-Qaeda shortly after 9/11 and the Afghan Taliban more recently.”
However, overlooking the activities of LeT in Pakistan is the equivalent of standing next to a ticking time bomb waiting for it to explode, Ms. Curtis warned. Furthermore, given that the LeT has cooperated with Al-Qaeda and shares a similar anti-west Islamist ideology, Al-Qaeda cannot be dismantled without also shutting down the operations of the LeT, she said.
'Delicate dance with a Frankenstein’s monster'
Mr. Ackerman pointed out that today LeT were well-financed, ambitious, and, most disturbingly, both tolerated by and connected to, the Pakistani military. This is the same Pakistani military to which we are selling advanced arms, Mr. Ackerman added. There was agreement at the Committee that “Pakistan was in a delicate dance with a Frankenstein’s monster of its own making... which was now going global.”
Mr. Ashley Tellis, Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, concurred on LeT’s deep links to the establishment in Pakistan. He said, “LeT… uses Pakistani territory as its main base of operation, and continues to be supported extensively by the Pakistani state, especially the Army and Inter-Services Intelligence. [However] it does not need constant operational support from the ISI for its effectiveness today.”
'Not just India's problem'
The Chairman’s report at the hearing described the LeT’s substantial global network, stating that it stretched from the Philippines to the United Kingdom. His comments further emphasised that the LeT was not just India’s problem and while it was historically been in the Kashmir valley and the Jammu region, it has also undertaken repeated and numerous mass casualty attacks throughout India, directed at the Indian government.
Touching upon LeT’s broader global agenda Mr. Tellis said, “The organisation’s close ties with al-Qaeda in Pakistan and its support for the Afghan Taliban’s military operations pose a direct threat to U.S. citizens, soldiers, and interests.”
The Chairman categorically stated, “The idea that this group can be appeased on the subject of Kashmir is dangerous nonsense.” He further added that the LeT has not been shy about announcing its intention to establish an Islamic state in all of South Asia, and has been attacking U.S. forces in Afghanistan almost from day one.
During his testimony Mr. Tellis called for greater candidness by the U.S., saying it should stop pretending that LeT is an independent actor. “A candid recognition that the organisation receives protection and support from the Pakistani state would go a long way toward solving the problem”, Mr. Tellis said. He further exhorted the U.S. to be prepared to take action if Pakistan did not move decisively against the LeT.
In his final remarks Mr. Ackerman made a strong statement calling for action, saying, “This group of savages needs to be crushed. Not in a month. Not in a year. Not when the situation stabilises in Afghanistan. Not when things are under control in Pakistan. Now.” If the U.S. did not effectively lead a global effort to do so, Mr. Ackerman added, they would regret it bitterly.
Gary Ackerman, Chairman of the hearing, “Bad Company: Lashkar e-Taiba and the Growing Ambition of Islamist Militancy in Pakistan”, said that in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks in 2008, investigation of computer records and email accounts revealed 320 locations worldwide deemed to be possible targets of LeT attacks, of which only 20 targets were located in India.
Highlighting the relationship between the LeT and the Pakistani military, Mr. Ackerman said the LeT was a deadly group of “fanatics” and the U.S. ought to take this threat “very, very seriously.”
Ms. Lisa Curtis, Senior Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation and expert witness testifying at the hearing, said, “It has been a failure of U.S. policy to not insist Pakistan shut down the LeT long ago. U.S. officials have shied away from pressuring Pakistan on the LeT in the interest of garnering Pakistani cooperation against targets the U.S. believed were more critical to immediate U.S. objectives, i.e., al-Qaeda shortly after 9/11 and the Afghan Taliban more recently.”
However, overlooking the activities of LeT in Pakistan is the equivalent of standing next to a ticking time bomb waiting for it to explode, Ms. Curtis warned. Furthermore, given that the LeT has cooperated with Al-Qaeda and shares a similar anti-west Islamist ideology, Al-Qaeda cannot be dismantled without also shutting down the operations of the LeT, she said.
'Delicate dance with a Frankenstein’s monster'
Mr. Ackerman pointed out that today LeT were well-financed, ambitious, and, most disturbingly, both tolerated by and connected to, the Pakistani military. This is the same Pakistani military to which we are selling advanced arms, Mr. Ackerman added. There was agreement at the Committee that “Pakistan was in a delicate dance with a Frankenstein’s monster of its own making... which was now going global.”
Mr. Ashley Tellis, Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, concurred on LeT’s deep links to the establishment in Pakistan. He said, “LeT… uses Pakistani territory as its main base of operation, and continues to be supported extensively by the Pakistani state, especially the Army and Inter-Services Intelligence. [However] it does not need constant operational support from the ISI for its effectiveness today.”
'Not just India's problem'
The Chairman’s report at the hearing described the LeT’s substantial global network, stating that it stretched from the Philippines to the United Kingdom. His comments further emphasised that the LeT was not just India’s problem and while it was historically been in the Kashmir valley and the Jammu region, it has also undertaken repeated and numerous mass casualty attacks throughout India, directed at the Indian government.
Touching upon LeT’s broader global agenda Mr. Tellis said, “The organisation’s close ties with al-Qaeda in Pakistan and its support for the Afghan Taliban’s military operations pose a direct threat to U.S. citizens, soldiers, and interests.”
The Chairman categorically stated, “The idea that this group can be appeased on the subject of Kashmir is dangerous nonsense.” He further added that the LeT has not been shy about announcing its intention to establish an Islamic state in all of South Asia, and has been attacking U.S. forces in Afghanistan almost from day one.
During his testimony Mr. Tellis called for greater candidness by the U.S., saying it should stop pretending that LeT is an independent actor. “A candid recognition that the organisation receives protection and support from the Pakistani state would go a long way toward solving the problem”, Mr. Tellis said. He further exhorted the U.S. to be prepared to take action if Pakistan did not move decisively against the LeT.
In his final remarks Mr. Ackerman made a strong statement calling for action, saying, “This group of savages needs to be crushed. Not in a month. Not in a year. Not when the situation stabilises in Afghanistan. Not when things are under control in Pakistan. Now.” If the U.S. did not effectively lead a global effort to do so, Mr. Ackerman added, they would regret it bitterly.
Labels: al Qaeda, HuJI, LeT, mumbai terror, Pakistan, terrorism
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