ID :
134269
Fri, 07/23/2010 - 08:05
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/134269
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US fears another 26/11 might trigger Indo-Pak war
Lalit K Jha
Washington, Jul 22 (PTI) US' top military commander
Thursday feared of a repeat of a Mumbai-style attack by
militants in India, which he said, would push nuclear-armed
India and Pakistan into a war.
Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike
Mullen, who was on his way to New Delhi, said that he was
focusing on efforts to ensure that it does not happen.
"I worry a great deal about a repeat attack, or
something like that," Mullen told reporters on board his
special plane.
Referring to 26/11, he said the attack demonstrated
that a small group of terrorists could have a "strategic
impact" and possibly take India and Pakistan to war.
"One of the things that struck me then and is still of
great concern how 10 terrorists could drive two nuclear armed
nations closer to conflict," he said, according to Pentagon.
"It didn't bring them to the brink (of war) but it
brought them closer," he said.
The admiral said: "There is the possibility of some
kind of miscalculation in response to an attack such as the
one in Mumbai."
He said Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), blamed
for the Mumbai attacks, was starting to emerge as a "larger
global threat."
The FBI arrested Faisal Shahzad, a Pakistani-American
in May in a botched Times Square bombing plot. Shahzad has
admitted that he was trained by LeT in Pakistan to carry out
the terrorist act in the US.
"One of the things I've watched in the FATA, in the
region between Pakistan and in Afghanistan is the merging of
these terrorist organisations," he said.
Mullen lauded India for showing restrain in the face
the Mumbai attacks that left 166 people dead, including
American nationals. Mullen recalled his visit to New Delhi
days after the terror attacks and said he was impressed by
Indian restraint during and immediately after the attacks.
"The US and India have shared interests that are tied
specifically to counter-terrorism. Working together to blunt
and to end the terrorist threat is one impetus to working
together" the admiral said.
Mullen's visit coincides with a tour to New Delhi by
special US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard
Holbrooke. Both men said combating the LeT was a top priority.
Holbrooke said the LeT was just one of a number of
regional militant groups, along with the Pakistani and Afghan
Taliban, looking to destabilise South Asia.
"They seem to be growing closer together ... (and)
their long-term objective is the same: to create the maximum
number of problems between India and Pakistan ... to create a
crisis," Holbrooke said.
Mullen lauded India for showing restrain in the face
the Mumbai attacks that left 166 people dead, including
American nationals. Mullen recalled his visit to New Delhi
days after the terror attacks and said he was impressed by
Indian restraint during and immediately after the attacks.
"The US and India have shared interests that are tied
specifically to counter-terrorism. Working together to blunt
and to end the terrorist threat is one impetus to working
together" the admiral said.
Asserting that military-to-military ties had grown
"dramatically" in the past 20 years, the highest ranking US
military official said the forces of the two countries should
"take a big new step to the next level.....and carry out more
complicated manoeuvres".
The US military chief who is to meet Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh and hold discussions with the three service
chiefs, National Security Advisor and political leaders said
Indians "are also very focused on how we share what we have
learned".
Elaborating on building up military cooperation,
Mullan said Maritime exercises predominate, but there have
been air exercises and last year saw the first US Army unit
training with the Indian Army in India.
Mullen said his talks with Indian military leader
would focus on cyber domain, as he described India as a rising
cyber power.
The US military chief will follow his visit to India
with one to Pakistan, saying that America wants to remain
engaged with both the nations.
"Certainly there is an opportunity to have discussions
across the region and we will work our way through to a much
more stable future," he said. PTI AKD
MYR
Washington, Jul 22 (PTI) US' top military commander
Thursday feared of a repeat of a Mumbai-style attack by
militants in India, which he said, would push nuclear-armed
India and Pakistan into a war.
Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike
Mullen, who was on his way to New Delhi, said that he was
focusing on efforts to ensure that it does not happen.
"I worry a great deal about a repeat attack, or
something like that," Mullen told reporters on board his
special plane.
Referring to 26/11, he said the attack demonstrated
that a small group of terrorists could have a "strategic
impact" and possibly take India and Pakistan to war.
"One of the things that struck me then and is still of
great concern how 10 terrorists could drive two nuclear armed
nations closer to conflict," he said, according to Pentagon.
"It didn't bring them to the brink (of war) but it
brought them closer," he said.
The admiral said: "There is the possibility of some
kind of miscalculation in response to an attack such as the
one in Mumbai."
He said Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), blamed
for the Mumbai attacks, was starting to emerge as a "larger
global threat."
The FBI arrested Faisal Shahzad, a Pakistani-American
in May in a botched Times Square bombing plot. Shahzad has
admitted that he was trained by LeT in Pakistan to carry out
the terrorist act in the US.
"One of the things I've watched in the FATA, in the
region between Pakistan and in Afghanistan is the merging of
these terrorist organisations," he said.
Mullen lauded India for showing restrain in the face
the Mumbai attacks that left 166 people dead, including
American nationals. Mullen recalled his visit to New Delhi
days after the terror attacks and said he was impressed by
Indian restraint during and immediately after the attacks.
"The US and India have shared interests that are tied
specifically to counter-terrorism. Working together to blunt
and to end the terrorist threat is one impetus to working
together" the admiral said.
Mullen's visit coincides with a tour to New Delhi by
special US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard
Holbrooke. Both men said combating the LeT was a top priority.
Holbrooke said the LeT was just one of a number of
regional militant groups, along with the Pakistani and Afghan
Taliban, looking to destabilise South Asia.
"They seem to be growing closer together ... (and)
their long-term objective is the same: to create the maximum
number of problems between India and Pakistan ... to create a
crisis," Holbrooke said.
Mullen lauded India for showing restrain in the face
the Mumbai attacks that left 166 people dead, including
American nationals. Mullen recalled his visit to New Delhi
days after the terror attacks and said he was impressed by
Indian restraint during and immediately after the attacks.
"The US and India have shared interests that are tied
specifically to counter-terrorism. Working together to blunt
and to end the terrorist threat is one impetus to working
together" the admiral said.
Asserting that military-to-military ties had grown
"dramatically" in the past 20 years, the highest ranking US
military official said the forces of the two countries should
"take a big new step to the next level.....and carry out more
complicated manoeuvres".
The US military chief who is to meet Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh and hold discussions with the three service
chiefs, National Security Advisor and political leaders said
Indians "are also very focused on how we share what we have
learned".
Elaborating on building up military cooperation,
Mullan said Maritime exercises predominate, but there have
been air exercises and last year saw the first US Army unit
training with the Indian Army in India.
Mullen said his talks with Indian military leader
would focus on cyber domain, as he described India as a rising
cyber power.
The US military chief will follow his visit to India
with one to Pakistan, saying that America wants to remain
engaged with both the nations.
"Certainly there is an opportunity to have discussions
across the region and we will work our way through to a much
more stable future," he said. PTI AKD
MYR
