A top US commander has warned that the “fragile peace” between India and Pakistan could be destabilised by laskhar-e-Tayyeba, Pakistan’s India-centric terror outfit which remains one of the most operationally capable terrorist groups in South Asia.
Admiral Samuel locklear, who heads the powerful US Pacific Command, informed the Senate Armed Services Committee that while the Indo-Pak relationship has gradually improved since the Mumbai attacks in 2008, dangers could still be lurking.
“Beyond the direct impact of these attacks (by leT in recent years), there is a significant danger another major terrorist attack could destabilise the fragile peace between India and Pakistan,” he said.
“Should the perpetrators of such an attack be linked back to Pakistan — as was the case in the 2008 attack — the Indian Government may face domestic pressure to respond and the resulting spiral of escalation could be rapid,” locklear said, adding: “For those reasons, and more importantly to protect innocent lives, we and our partners in the US Government engage regularly with the Indians and Pakistanis to avert such a crisis.” While noting the gradually improved ties brought about by a series of confidence building measures, growing economic ties and the absence of large-scale destabilising incidents, the US Admiral stressed: “However, we remain concerned the progress could be quickly undone by a major terrorist attack.”
The situation is highlighted by the fact that “both sides maintain modern, trained militaries underpinned by demonstrated nuclear capabilities” and that “a major war on the subcontinent is not likely, but could be catastrophic to both sides, as well as the region”.
In his testimony, locklear made the case for stronger US-India strategic partnership for regional security, countering terrorism and safeguarding international non-proliferation.
While noting that the US-India relationship is in its strongest phase since India gained independence in 1947, he said a powerful strategic partnership between the two has become “imperative to achieve US national interests including ensuring regional security, strengthening the international trading system, protecting shared domains, countering terrorism, and bolstering international nonproliferation”.