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What Do Mumbai Attacks Mean for Region?

December 01, 2008 1:37 PM

By JIM SCIUTTO, Senior Foreign Correspondent, ABC News London

The Pakistani connection to the attacks in Mumbai, India, brings real concern that the attacks could  further tighten Indian-Pakistani tensions. But there is already one regional war going on, which the Mumbai attacks highlight .

Apg_india_pakistan_map_081129_main

Even if there's no official Pakistani government or agency involvement in the Mumbai assaults, the fact that the attackers were likely based in Pakistan re-emphasizes the regional implications of Pakistan's instability and inability to control extremist groups on its soil.  U.S. officials and commanders were already beginning to view Afghanistan-Pakistan as a wider, cross-border war. With the attacks in India, it  has become truly regional, with militants based in Pakistan carrying out attacks in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. (You can even say the war extends all the way to Europe, considering that the 2006 liquid-bomb plot that targeted trans-Atlantic airliners also had roots in Pakistan.)

Traveling with U.S. troops on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border this summer, commanders told us the mix of militants they're fighting on the border includes Taliban, al Qaeda and Kashmiri combatants  ( i.e., Lashkar e Taiba). In this sense, if L-e-T is behind these attacks, the conflict now has a proven regional reach all on its own, operating in three countries. That would mean one more Pakistani-based militant group with international ambitions. Does that sound familiar?

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December 1, 2008 in Jim Sciutto | Permalink | User Comments (15)

User Comments

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Us or them... choose your side.

Pakistan is on the clock...

Posted by: Deep Release | Dec 1, 2008 2:10:42 PM

The attacks on Mumbai underscore the evermore need to understand that terrorism is a crime against humanity that afflicts the world. While the attacks were regional, the implications are world-wide and as such call for an unprecedented cooperation amongst all nations of the world.

Posted by: JOE | Dec 1, 2008 2:24:50 PM

LeT, etc, are financed by Saudi's.
Remember 911? More Saudi's. Oil, folks.

Drive less - Buy a Hybrid, or
Electric Car, or a Moped.

You CAN change the world.

Posted by: Joe | Dec 1, 2008 2:39:52 PM

What Pakistani connection? Until now we have only heard Indian accusations without substansiation, and guess where they are getting their information from? A captive whom they are torturing!! That's really credible evidence - if you are an idiot!

Posted by: HonestJohn | Dec 1, 2008 3:11:56 PM

what happened in mumbai was un bareable. the people the were living their did not disarve what they got (deth)

Posted by: Amandeep | Dec 1, 2008 6:31:43 PM

When the US military attacks Pakistan and Kashmir civilians with their predator missiles, those people are bound to find ways to retaliate as they did in Mumbai. It is disheartening to hear military people boast that they can go around killing people with impunity, because it is we civilians that will end up paying the price.

Posted by: JoeForSure | Dec 1, 2008 7:20:29 PM

Time has arrived for the so called super power to realize that Monetary help provided to Pakistan, has been used to provide training for these f?????? terriosts.

One thing USA need to get staright into their head that ISI an intelligence arm? of Pakistan has got control on every single political appointment in PAKISTAN.

Believe me. I, as an american citizen, am more sacred now than ever cause current political turmoil in south asia will definitely divert PAKISTAN army's attention to its borders. They are already blackmaling USA, our government.

I am yet to understand the rationale behind providing monetary help to pakistan. These funds are used to arm the terriosts by ISI. And PAKISTAN'S army is useless anyhow as we are losing more and more of our men...our men, brothers.

Its high time that PAKISTAN be given ultimatium- dismantle every single terriost network run on its soil or we are coming in because anyhow your army is a piece of trash as...more and more of our men are gettting killed everyday on its NORTH WEST BORDER...and in AFGHANISTAN.

Posted by: rockanalyst | Dec 1, 2008 7:37:27 PM

These are the kinds of people representing the US in Afghanistan, it is no wonder the rest of the world hates us and are trying to kill us.

Posted by: JoeForSure | Dec 1, 2008 8:21:39 PM

What happened there border patrols were they not working that day?

Posted by: sal | Dec 1, 2008 10:51:27 PM

I am replying to the comment by Mr HonestJohn who is very sympathetic to the captured terrorist. He also sympathetic to Pakistan. He is a supporting to a Terrorist Nation who is root cause of all the troubles in the world.

BKP
----------------------
What Pakistani connection? Until now we have only heard Indian accusations without substansiation, and guess where they are getting their information from? A captive whom they are torturing!! That's really credible evidence - if you are an idiot!

Posted by: HonestJohn | Dec 1, 2008 3:11:56 PM

Posted by: BKP | Dec 2, 2008 12:57:06 AM

India & other countries should break all types of connection with PAKISTAN - A terror country

Posted by: CNP | Dec 2, 2008 3:53:11 AM

There are other countries too affected by terrorism, just because the country s small and not rich doesn’t mean its okay the natives getting killed in large numbers. Americans still remember 9/11 vividly and now it’s the Indians turn to deal with it, who’s next? Leaders of the world need to re think and re evaluate their foreign policies and be very transparent with dealings. I wonder how these ‘supposedly banned groups’ acquire money for survival and weapons in the first place. Knock knock people, you might probably be fooled by a wolf in a sheep clothing

Posted by: menik457 | Dec 2, 2008 4:59:41 AM

Mr HonestJohn no one in india is torturing those criminals .Every one knows that Interpole most wanted Daud Ibrahim is operating from Pakistan, Osama is hiding somewhere in pakistan , LeT offices are all across Pakistan. last year Afganistan president produced the evidence of attack on Indian embassy where ISI was directly involved . why not UN or G-8 asks for those terrorist/proof/facts from india to understand ground reality and get it verified by there own sources and takes appropriate action? Some of the world fame pak institution are provoking indian muslims but indian peaceloving muslim community have even refused the burial of these terrorists any where in india.

Posted by: san_77 | Dec 2, 2008 5:29:22 AM

I think it says the longer Israel decides to commit these atrocities against the Palestians, Jews are not safe regardless of where they are located?

Posted by: Citizen in FL | Dec 2, 2008 12:58:28 PM

It just means every group will kill each other even more. It means the US will strike in Pakistan with renewed vigor, causing civilian and militant deaths, giving us the gift of even more enemies.

Posted by: Huh | Dec 2, 2008 8:21:14 PM

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