LeT being assisted by Al-Qaida in attacks on India: Robert Gates

Washington: Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary said that the terrorist group Al-Qaida has been helping Lashkar-e-Taiba, another prominent terrorist outfit, in launching attacks in India. He reiterated that these activities are being pursued by Al-Qaida with the aim of starting a conflict between the South Asian neighbours India and Pakistan. He pointed out that the Al-Qaida is providing them with information regarding possible targets. Gates has said that help is also being provided in connection to various stages of planning these attacks in India. Their basic intention is to add to the amount of destability persisting at various levels in Pakistan through encouraging an Indo-Pak tussle. Incidentally, it may be noted that Lashkar-e-Taiba is the main accused as far as the 26/11 attacks at Mumbai in India are concerned. This carnage, overseen by ten Pakistani terrorists, of whom only Ajmal Kasab is alive and is undergoing trial, had claimed 166 lives in the commercial capital of India including several foreigners last year.