Author:
Publication: Agence France-Presse
Date: December 30, 2001
Washington, Dec 30 (AFP) - India's
ambassador to the United States said Sunday al-Qaeda leaders were already
in Pakistan and may soon be carrying out terrorist activities in the disputed
border areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
"Al-Qaeda leadership has already
fled into Pakistan. Our concern is that from Pakistan they will make a
beeline for Jammu and Kashmir and carry on more terrorist activities,"
Ambassador Lalit Mansingh said on Fox News.
India has massed tens of thousands
of troops on its border with Pakistan after a deadly December 13 attack
by gunmen on its parliament, which New Delhi blames on militant groups
in Pakistan.
Pakistan is also moving troops to
its border with India, worrying Washington that it is pulling forces away
from the border with Afghanistan and the search for fleeing al-Qaeda fighters.
"This threat of moving troops from
one front to another just sounds to me like blackmail," Mansingh said.
"You don't need to move troops, you do not need to do anything except to
shut down the terrorist groups within that country."
Tensions between India and Pakistan
have soared since a bloody December 13 assault on India's parliament, which
New Delhi accuses Pakistan's military intelligence of masterminding. Islamabad
denies the allegation.
The standoff between the two longtime
rivals has fueled fears of further regional conflict and could undermine
Islamabad's role as a key ally in the US-led war on terrorism.
