LeT has acquired lethal capabilities: US intel chief

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Feb 17 (PTI) Concerned that Pakistan based
Lashkar-i-Taiba is expanding horizons, a top US security
official has said the terror group has acquired capabilities
to launch a Mumbai-type terrorist strike in Europe and other
parts of the world.
Any fresh strike by the group in India or anywhere
else would hurt US national security interest and its
counter-terrorism interests in the region, Michael Leiter,
Director of the National Counter-terrorism Center told
lawmakers.
Testifying before the Senate Select Committee on
Intelligence, said Pak-based LeT has enough capabilities to
launch a Mumbai-type terrorist strike in Europe and other
parts of the world.
"What we have not yet seen is a history of them doing
so. We are certainly concerned by some indicators we see of
them expanding their horizons beyond the region.
Certainly they have the capacity -- it's a large
organisation," he said.
The US intelligence chief comments came as a powerful
lawmaker took the Pak's ISI to task for not handing over to
India, those responsible for the Mumbai terrorist attacks.
India has identified LeT operations commander Zakiur
Rahman Lakhvi along with others as the plotters of the Mumbai
terror attacks in which 166 people were gunned down.
Dianne Feinstein, Chairman of the Senate Select
Intelligence Committee, said, "It appears the ISI walks both
sides of the street. The failure of the country to turn over
two leading -- one operator, one leader -- from the Mumbai
attack to India; the reluctance to go into North Waziristan;
the development of a safe harbor; the concentration of a
number of terrorist groups in that safe harbor."
In his deposition Leiter said, "What they did in India
could theoretically be launched elsewhere. But we have not yet
seen those steps occur. I think the additional point that I
would stress is they can still be a very destabilising factor
in the region."
"So even without striking in the US or Europe, a
further attack by Lashkar-e-Taiba in India would very much
hurt our national security and our counterterrorism interests
in Pakistan," Leiter said in response to a question from US
lawmakers. PTI LKJ
RCJ


The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s) and may contain
proprietary, confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify
the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this message and any attachments
contained in it.


Delete & Prev | Delete & Next