Author: H S Rao in London
Publication: Rediff on Net
Date: October 18, 2001
International terrorist mastermind
Osama bin Laden and Pakistan's military intelligence are providing "active
support" to Lashkar-e-Tayiba, a militant outfit operating in Kashmir, a
leading institute for strategic studies in London has said.
In its latest report - The Military
Balance 2001-2002 - released on Thursday morning, the International Institute
for Strategic Studies said: "Pakistani military intelligence is reported
to be giving active support to the Kashmir-based Muslim guerrilla movement,
Lashkar-e-Tayiba, as is international terrorist Osama bin Laden."
The report also says that local
support for militancy is dying out in Jammu and Kashmir with the people
desiring a peaceful resolution of the issue.
"There is a growing number of Kashmiri
Muslims who are wary of the conflict and wish to reach an accord with India,"
it says.
The 320-page report says that New
Delhi "wants to cut down on its constant and heavy military commitment
in Kashmir, which is a drain on resources that could be better directed
to the military-modernisation plans."
The report says "an important development
is the more cooperative relationship between the US and India that has
developed since the Bush administration took office in January 2001."
Noting that India was "embarking
upon an ambitious programme to restructure, modernise and re-equip its
armed forces," it says New Delhi's "improved relationship with the US may
result in financial assistance and thus some impetus to this process."
