Mumbai attacks suggest disturbing alliances,says expert

Washington, Dec.6 (ANI): The nature of the recent attacks in Mumbai suggests collaboration between internal dissidents and foreign intelligence agencies, says a University of Indianapolis international relations specialist.

Unlike previous attacks in India, this time the terrorists came via sea, firing indiscriminately rather than using bombs and specifically targeting numerous centers.

The variation in method as well as the professionalism imply a collaboration between four possible groups: Al Qaeda or a similar outfit; Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence, which has long been suspected of training and equipping terrorist initiatives against India; homegrown Indian groups like the Deccan Mujahedeen, which has actually claimed responsibility for the current attack; and members of the Mumbai underworld, he says.

While the first three have motivations extending from dislike of a non-Muslim secular state to weakening a critical enemy to exacting revenge for perceived crimes against Muslims, the latter two have the local support that makes their involvement crucial, he adds.

This, he says, might explain differing objectives stated at various times by the terrorists - in one case warning India to vacate Muslim lands (a clear reference to Kashmir), and in another purportedly responding to Indian support of U.S. foreign policy.

However, specifically targeting American and British tourists is not an effective way to invite international sympathy for the Kashmir question, so it is more likely that statement was made to give the appearance of Kashmiri nationalism, the expert adds.

"All of this would suggest a Pakistani source, but since the new government of President Zardari is not considered hostile to India, it is highly probable that this may be a rogue operation by Pakistani operatives, or another sign that the government is losing control of various terrorist groups that have been allowed to take refuge there over the last two decades," he concludes. (ANI)