Mumbai mayhem suggests emergence of disturbing alliances: US expert
30 Nov 2008, 1241 Hrs

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Washington, Nov.30 An international relations specialist at the University of Indianapolis has that the horrific terror strike in Mumbai suggests the emergence of disturbing alliances in the short term.

The unnamed specialist says that since 2005, India has suffered four major terror strikes, each more devastating than the last, and the fact that this time the terrorists used the sea route to professionally strike at the country's financial capital, implies 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.

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 says.

He says that the specific targeting of 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 places targeted - a café, two hotels, a railway station, hospitals, police stations - suggests that the main objective was to stifle life in Mumbai.

This attack on Mumbai undermines not just Indian, but regional stability and requires both South Asian and broader international cooperation to prevent future outbursts, he concludes. (ANI)