Pakistani Terrorist Group Plans New Attacks

The lead article in today’s New York Times is titled, “Militant Network is Intact Long After Mumbai Siege.” It describes the efforts of India and Pakistan to arrest the terrorists responsible for attacking two five-star hotels, a cafe, train station and Jewish institution in Mumbai, India. The article is frightening in its implication of future conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations.

Apparently, the terrorist group, Lashkar-e-Taiba (or Lashkar for short) continues to operate with impunity in Pakistan and maintains unofficial relations with the Pakistani intelligence agency, ISI, as well as the Pakistani military. In addition, the government refuses to arrest the head of Lashkar, Hafiz Saeed, despite Indian intelligence regarding his participation in the Mumbai plot.

Lashkar also boasts wide membership, up to 150,000, among the Pakistani people as well as support for its mission to liberate the Muslim majority in Kashmir, currently under Indian control. More ominously, Lashkar is planning future attacks, and, if successful, it would most likely generate an Indian military response.

The mind boggles at the current possibilities of nuclear or otherwise horrific combat these days including between Iran and Israel, India and Pakistan, and, last but not least, between Al Qaeda and the United States. Any single one of these events would be enough to start a conflagration that would be difficult to control.

Hopefully, while President Obama works on health care and other domestic matters, he’s keeping his eye on the ball overseas.