Reports suggest the world's other great terror menace may be tiring of its key enablers, writes Rajeev Sharma.
Pakistan watchers in India are following the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba closely.
No wonder.
Long seen as India’s biggest bugbear, the LeT, suspected to have ties to Pakistan's defense establishment, may now be turning against its master, diplomatic and security sources told The Diplomat.
The latest Indian assessment of the LeT is apparently based on defiant posturing of its founder and alleged chief Hafiz Mohammed Saeed on several key issues. This has raised serious questions about the terrorist group’s growing ambitions and brazenness. Saeed is reportedly unhappy with the Pakistan Army’s attitude. He believes that LeT has done more than any other terrorist group to promote the army’s strategic interest but has got back precious little. His group has not only trained recruits for jihad in Kashmir but also carried out some spectacular attacks against India, in addition to training cadres for the Taliban and other terrorist groups. Any sign of the terror group turning away from Pakistan has the potential to threaten Pakistan’s own security and broad interests. But it would also have important implications for India.
Saeed’s biggest grouse against the Pakistan army is that it wanted him to lie low, as Rawalpindi has needed a breather from unrelenting pressure from the international community. He responded by stepping up his anti-U.S. ranting and publicly called for jihad not only against India but also the U.S. In April, 2012, Saeed dared the U.S. to arrest him and said so while addressing a large gathering at his headquarters in Jamia Markaz al-Qadsia: “They are scared of my name. America should leave Pakistan and Afghanistan peacefully. Then, we will not come to you with guns but will instead invite you to Islam“.
Saeed has now taken up the leadership of Difa-e-Pakistan, an umbrella council of 40-odd extremist groups, which is gearing up to stake a political claim with generous assistance from ISI. Saeed has not only been leading the group but also addressing its rallies across Pakistan, venting spleen as usual on India and the U.S. He has also taken upon himself to campaign against the Pakistani government’s moves to make up with the U.S., a move that has not gone down well with military brass.
He has opposed Islamabad’s decision, announced yesterday, to reopen NATO supply lines for U.S. forces in Afghanistan. In an open letter to the National Assembly, Saeed accused the U.S. of betraying its agreements with Pakistan. He said if Pakistan accepted U.S. demands, the country would be “engulfed yet again by the flames of terrorism fanned by the likes of the U.S., NATO and India… Please remember that those helping people who burn the Quran and kill our brothers will be accountable for their sins in this life and beyond. “
Since Saeed has hardly deviated from the diktats of Rawalpindi GHQ, his `soft` opposition to the latter’s decisions could be an indication of the terror leader’s bid for autonomy. Or it could also mean a division within the military hierarchy on supporting the U.S. line and Saeed’s actions and words could be a `weather balloon` floated by the group opposing the U.S. line.
It might be worth asking: is Saeed’s newfound belligerence a ruse to divert attention from the Haqqani Network and the Taliban, both critical to the Pakistani Army’s Afghanistan strategy? Whichever way you look at it, the terror emanating from Pakistan remains as serious as ever.
Hafiz Saeed owes his very existence to the Pakistani Army. He was an ordinary religious teacher in a Lahore university when, according to some allegations, he was chosen by the Army to head a new terrorist group launched in Kunar province of Afghanistan. He was then supposedly given generous funding and state support to set up the big complex in Muridke to recruit, indoctrinate, train and launch terrorist attacks in Kashmir.
Saeed obliged with fervor. He broke bread with virtually every other extremist group in Pakistan, his patrons in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries to create one of the world’s most notorious terror groups, the LeT, which worked towards one solitary goal: to liberate Kashmir from India.
Saeed and his patron’s biggest success have been the Mumbai 2008 attacks, cited in repeated dossiers that India presented to Pakistan (the sixth reported here). While Saeed provided the cover, recruits and training, the patrons ISI and Pakistan Army planned and executed the terror attack on India. Since the Army and ISI higher ups were deeply involved in every step of the preparation of the attack, Saeed knew that he would remain safe from prosecution. But after the Mumbai attack, the Army decided to keep a safe distance from LeT and Hafiz Saeed, primarily because of intense pressure from the U.S.
The reason why Rawalpindi has pulled back from the brink is obvious, but not obvious enough for Saeed. The Pakistan Army cannot afford to get its name dragged into the international terror matrix, particularly linking it explicitly with the Mumbai attacks, because it would inevitably be concomitant with international sanctions and the possibility of the country being declared a `terrorist state`. Such international actions will mean a global squeeze on investments and aid which will certainly push Pakistan into yet greater dysfunction.
India is apprehensively watchful of events unfolding. Any degree of change in the relationship between Saeed and his controllers among the Pakistani military establishment would surely have repercussions on India's national security. There has not been a major terror attack on India for quite some time now. This could amount to a strategic defeat for the likes of Saeed. But since much could still happen and the landscape around Saeed is still blurred, it is far too soon for India to grow complacent.
Photo Credit: US Army
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Lies and Lies and more Lies.
Why dont you'll realize that terrorism is not the way of life?
By not eating pork you pakistanis are not doing the right thing.Infact please stop terrorism and live a good life
Dont get over confident that China is behind you'll as that day will end soon.
Climp Jones
Party on Patheticistan
Khan
Mr. Sharma ! What your state is doing in Afghanistan ? You can explain it better if you wish , Your establishment is involve in Terrorist attacks . Is it not terrorism to kill hundreds of innocent Chidren , Women in your illegeal occupied area ( as you mentioned ) . Why are you too much worrying about people that are far away from your territory . May be because you have peaceful mind , but brother please help the ones who are at your doorstep , Be Not Brutal to Your Neighbours , Let them live according to their Wish ! It will be your real strugle to eliminate Terrorism !
Mazo
Khan, Please don't confuse your Palestine propaganda with Kashmir!
You are utterly wrong to claim India's control over Kashmir is an "occupation" or "wrong" in any way. Actually history shows that it is Pakistan's occupation of Kashmir that is today called "Azad Kasmir" that is totally illegal and indeed an "occupied" area without any legal basis. India on the other hand was "invited" to annex the Kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir by its previous leader, which is very much a legal transfer of power.
Further, even UN resolutions have never asked India to give up control over Kashmir but have merely asked India to carry out a plebicite, which India has refused to do as long terrorism continues in Kashmir.
Another Khan
Maz, please get some knowledge on what your write. Pakistan calls it Azad Kashmir because people are not being subjugated, they are free and have their own government. The people do not want an independent state or merge with India. There is no repression or army for rape and burning villages. While Indian government had and still is using every brutal tactic in the Indian-occupied Kashmir. People there do not want to be under the Indian government. they either want independence or merge with Pakistan.
Sardar KHAN
Typical bunderstani(indian) twisting the truth.Be real,Jamu & Kashmir is a disputed territory and is not part of bunderstan/Pakistan.Therefore,people of J & K have full right fight oxxupier at all cost.Further more,it is mere accustions of terrorist bunderstan against Hafiz Saeed and unproven.I am amazed how quick bunderstani planted RAW agents jump on malign Pakistan all the time.
Have you ever produced any proof of ISI/Army involment in terror attacks on any other country in the world.NO,it is only bunderstani government in desperation always blames ISI of wrong doing in its country.There is a saying in Pakistan,"That if a bunderstani dies by falling of his own bike.ISI will be accused for his death."What a state of mind is the bunderstanis.We call it ISIphobia.Moreover it is the policy of bunderstani goverment to accuse ISI and carryingon repeating like broken record and will become a fact.What false conviction?
I wonder why have you forgot to mention the attroticies,killing of childern,young men,rape of women and abduction of leaders by the terrorist occupying bunderstani army in Jamu & Kashmir?Does it is too much painfull to admit the terrible truth in J&K?
Come out of Pakistani/ISI phobia and admit the truth,that you are a hater of Pakistan and try to malign Pakistan all the time.By the way,Hafiz Saeed is most popular perso in Pakistan and may be elected as primeminister/president of Pakistan.Then what will you/bunderstan will do about this.A penny for your thoughts.
maverick
As per Indian Independence Act, 1947, Kashmir acceded to India and it is Pakistan which is occupying Azad Kashmir. Can you explain why Pakistan army needs to be in Azad Kashmir if it is an independent country? Pakistan is to Kashmir as Israel is to Palestine
Matt
If this author is concerned with protecting India's security I believe it would be wise to mention the known fact that Al Qaeda helped train the Mumbai LeT group and mention the LeT-Al Qaeda alliance at every oppurtunity. India and the US have the very same group of terrorists attacking us so why not identify them as being who they are? This also defeats the ISI's attempt to stay behind the scenes. Maybe ISI will change their ways if every article written about them included their links with Al Qaeda and LeT.
If you don't know the story yet of LeT and Al Qaeda go to the Longwar Journal and read up. Ignorance is what the ISI is counting on.
Anjaan
Don't bother about LET. It is not LET that is the most capable terrorist outfit in Pakistan …… it is the Pakistani army, that is the most organized and lethal Islamic terrorist outfit in Pakistan…….in conjunction with the Saudis, the fountainhead of pan-Islamic terrorism, and the enabler of all smaller terrorist outfits.