US Congress told of unholy LET-ISI nexus

By Naveen Kapoor, New Delhi, Mar 13 : Majority of think tanks and experts have informed the US Congress of the close coordination between the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Inter Services Intelligence organization of Pakistan in promoting Islamic militancy in south Asia.

They also told the Congress that LET is funded by the ISI to conduct cross border terror attacks like Mumbai.

Experts have cautioned Obama administration the impact of supplying arms to Pakistan and said it could complicate the matters. Testifying before the Congressional Committee, Marvin G Weinbaum from the Middle East Institute - a Washington-based think tank -- said despite a ban on LET the group is allowed to function with impunity and ISI continues to consider the terror group as an assert.

LET chief Hafeez Saeed''s appearance in the public rallies where he spewed venom against India and called for waging war was noticed by Lisa Curtis of the Heritage Foundation. She said the appearance of Hafiz Saeed at a recent public rally casts grave doubts about Pakistan''s commitment to rein in the group''s activities.

Curtis pointed out that the US has failed in its efforts to pressurize Pakistan to take action against anti -India groups like Lashkar.

Ashley J Tellis, senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told lawmakers that LeT relies on the ISI primarily for safe haven and political protection for its leadership. It also relies on the ISI for intelligence on selected targets. The LeT receives campaign guidance and and assistance during attempts at infiltration, particularly in regard to long distance operations involving transits through third countries.

Director, South Asia Center, the Atlantic Council of the United States and eminent Pakistani scholar Shuja Nawaz also dwelt on Lashkar ''s transformation as a trans- regional force spreading its influence in Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

Nawaz said the LeT''s emerging role as a trans-regional force that has broadened its area of activities all over India and Afghanistan. Its links with Students Islamic Movement of India and the Harkat ul Jihad al Islami --or HUJI of Bangladesh -- poses a serious threat to regional stability.

US experts have uncovered the unholy alliance between Pakistan''s covert agency and proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba. The deep briefing by experts has vindicated India''s position, which has been asking international community, especially US, to pay heed to its concerns.