LeT emergence adds new dimension to terror threat landscape:US

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Aug 5 (PTI) LeT's emergence post 26/11
attacks has added a new dimension to the terrorist threat
landscape as the Pakistan-based terror outfit's activities
have made clear its deepening commitment to undertake "bold
and mass-casualty operations" against US and western targets,
an official US report said Thursday.
US State Department's annual Congressionally-mandated
Country Reports on Terrorism for the year 2009 also said the
core of Al-Qaeda based in Pakistan continue to pose a major
threat to the US.
On the LeT, the report said: "Since the 2008 Mumbai
attack, analysts have deepening concern that it could evolve
into a genuine global threat. (LeT operative David) Headley
and others indicate the diversity, mobility, and versatility
of self-selecting recruits whom organisations can pick to meet
strategic goals."
"Organisations may set these goals, but their training
resources and recruits are increasingly modular and
interchangeable," the State Department said.
The report also noted that Headley, an American
citizen of Pakistani origin, has pleaded guilty in a US court
to crimes relating to his role in the 26/11 attacks and to
crimes relating to a separate plot to bomb the Danish
newspaper 'Jyllands-Posten'.
On Al-Qaeda, the report said its core in Pakistan
remained the most formidable terrorist organization targeting
the US homeland.
"It has proven to be an adaptable and resilient
terrorist group whose desire to attack the United States and
US interests abroad remains strong," it said.
The US intelligence community assessed that al-Qaeda
was actively engaged in operational plotting against the US
and continued recruiting, training, and deploying operatives,
including individuals from Western Europe and North America.
"Moreover, al-Qaeda continued to try to expand its
operational capabilities by partnering with other terrorist
groups, with varying degrees of success," said the report in
its strategic assessment.
Noting that al-Qaeda suffered several significant
setbacks in 2009, the report said the group remained under
pressure in Pakistan due to Pakistani military operations
aimed at eliminating militant strongholds in the Federally
Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). PTI LKJ
RDM


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