By William Tucker
Terrorism struck the Indian city of Mumbai again yesterday killing at least 18 people and wounding many more. The attack consisted of several improvised explosive devices using ammonium nitrate and was designed to be detonated remotely. Although it has been confirmed that three devices were used in the attack it has been suggested by several sources that there were more IED’s that didn’t function properly. IED’s can fail for any number of reasons, so it is difficult to say whether this was due to poor craftsmanship, poor placement, environmental factors, or a combination of each. Thus far, no group has claimed responsibility.
Addressing the media after the attack, Indian Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram stated, “There was no intelligence regarding a militant attack in Mumbai. That is not a failure of intelligence agencies.” We know that perpetrators have attacked and have worked in a very, very clandestine manner, maybe a very small group that has not communicated with each other.” Without a group claiming responsibility, or intelligence indicating an attack was in the offing, speculation that the Pakistani ISI, Indian Mujahedeen, LeT, or HuJI was behind the attack is sweeping the media. And this is where things get difficult.
The Indian Mujahedeen, LeT, and HuJI all have ties to the ISI; however not all actions taken by these groups are sanctioned by the intelligence agency. There are plenty of rogue officers, either current or former members of the ISI, which initiate action against India in furtherance of their personal political agenda. That may well be the motivation behind yesterday’s attack. India and Pakistan are once again talking peace – something that is not well received by the more Islamist minded terrorist groups operating out of Pakistan. Furthermore, the director of the ISI, Lieutenant-General Ahmad Shuja Pasha, was in Washington yesterday trying to smooth relations with the U.S. This attack comes at a delicate time for Pakistan and may have been designed to derail Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts. That being said, neither party has shown any indication that diplomacy will be abandoned after this attack. Of course, the militants behind the attack are unlikely to give up as the situation on the subcontinent is still tense and very much in flux.
