London terrorist plot: focus on Pakistan

New Delhi, Aug 18 (UNI) The swift counter-terrorism action initiated by the British security services (August 10) that foiled a major terrorist plot to blow up trans-Atlantic commercial flights emanating from Heathrow is now more than a week old.

Some broad contours of what is being described as a 'repeat 9-11' are gradually becoming discernible and the needle of suspicion points to Pakistan--as it often has, in many such global terrorist incidents since 9-11, whose sombre fifth anniversary is a few weeks away.

However, in the London incident, there are some interesting departures that merit comment. This plot was apparently averted in the nick of time due to very close cooperation between the intelligence agencies of the UK, Pakistan and the USA. President Pervez Musharraf has been commended by both the UK and US for his