Author: S Rajagopalan
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: February 4, 2010
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/233565/Pak-regards-terror-outfits-as-key-arsenal-against-India-US.html
Although acting against militants threatening
it directly, Pakistan continues to believe that terror groups are a key element
of its 'strategic arsenal' to counter India's military and economic advantages,
says the US's topmost intelligence official.
In a testimony before the US Congress, Director
of National Intelligence Dennis Blair noted that such a calculation on Islamabad's
part would continue to limit an across-the-board push against extremism.
"Islamabad's strategic approach risks
helping Al Qaeda sustain its safe haven because some groups supported by Pakistan
provide assistance to Al Qaeda," Blair said, listing the Huqqani Taliban,
Gul Bahadur and Commander Nazir groups among the 'militant proxies'supported
by it.
Blair spoke of Pakistan's 'mixed efforts' while taking on insurgents and terrorists.
While noting the determined push against militants perceived to be dangerous
to its interests, he said pointedly: "However, it (Islamabad) still judges
it does not need to confront groups that do not threaten it directly and maintains
historical support to the Taliban."
During the testimony, Blair and other top
intelligence guns including CIA Director Leon Panetta and FBI Director Robert
Mueller concurred on the strong possibility of the Al Qaeda or one of its
affiliates attempting a large-scale attack on American soil within the next
six months. Blair said he was 'highly certain' about such a bid.
In a report on the US Intelligence Community's
Annual Threat Assessment that was submitted to the Senate Select Committee
on Intelligence, Blair referred to the Lashkar-e-Tayyeba as 'a special case'.
"Although the group (LeT) is not focused
on the US, we are concerned that, in general, it is becoming more of a direct
threat, and is placing Western targets in Europe in its sights," the
US intelligence chief says, adding LeT's Mumbai attacks that also targeted
Jewish interests and Westerners raise concerns that the group will more actively
embrace an anti-Western agenda: Blair's report also drums home the point that
despite the robust military operations against extremists directly challenging
Pakistan's authority, groups such as Al Qaeda, Afghan Taliban and Pakistani
militant groups "continue to use Pakistan as a safe haven for organising,
training, and planning attacks against the United States and our allies in
Afghanistan, India, and Europe".
"Al Qaeda historically has worked with
trusted individuals within Pakistani militant groups to leverage operational
resources, including trainees, and almost certainly will continue to do so,"
it noted, stressing that this group's regional affiliates and jihadi networks
should be watched.
Questioned by Senators on the possibility
of an attack on US soil, Blair said that Al Qaeda "maintains its intent
to attack the homeland - preferably with a large-scale operation that would
cause mass casualties, harm the US economy or both". Blair and other
intelligence officials also spoke of the increased risk of cyber-attacks in
the coming months.
The officials warned of new threats from Al
Qaeda's regional allies, such as
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, saying
that several groups appeared increasingly intent on attacking US and Western
targets. Panetta said the terrorists are moving to other safe havens and regional
nodes as well, such as Yemen, Somalia, the Maghreb.
