US Senator blames Lashkar for attack on Lankan cricketers
March 12th, 2009 - 2:15 pm ICT by ANI Washington, Mar.12 (ANI): US Senator from Missouri Claire McCaskill has blamed the Lashkar-e-Taiba for the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, the Nov. 26 terrorist attacks in Mumbai and the subway killings in London.
According to the Dawn, she claimed that despite the Lashkars involvement in such major attacks, Pakistan was protecting the group and refused to help the US investigate its deeds.
I dont think the picture with Pakistans cooperation is quite as bleak as you portrayed, Admiral Blair responded.
He noted that since the Mumbai attacks Pakistan had arrested Lashkar leaders and was taking steps to prosecute them.
So I think that that particular trend is positive, but it has a ways to go and its not a simple progress, he said.
Senator McCaskill then claimed that the Lashkar had many sympathizers among Pakistanis living in Europe and the United States and was using them for planning attacks in these places.
I think on the particulars related to Pakistani-Americans and visa-waivers (Pakistanis living in European nations whose citizens do not need visas to visit the US), well have to get back to you, Admiral Blair was quoted, as saying.
Senator Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, claimed that the ISI had created the Lashkar and asked if the Lashkar was filling up the operational space denied to al-Qaeda.
Admiral Blair sad the ISI or Pakistan government had changed its policy towards Lashkar-e-Taiba partially, but it had not become a force for good in Pakistan or in the region.
Lt. Gen. Maples said he also believed that the Pakistani government had distanced themselves from LeT and had taken some very significant action since the recent past towards the organization. (ANI)
- LeT not yet on Pakistan's radar: Gen Petraeus - Mar 17, 2010
- ISI 'aided 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks' - Oct 19, 2010
- Rana trial may expose Pakistan's double game - May 23, 2011
- The spy who used ISI 'Brylcreem' to sway US (Washington Newsletter) - Dec 11, 2011
- 26/11: NIA files charges against Headley, eight others (Lead) - Dec 24, 2011
- Rana trial jury yet to reach verdict - Jun 09, 2011
- Headley looked for a safe landing site for LeT (Third Lead) - May 27, 2011
- Ilyas Kashmiri targeted Lockheed CEO: Headley - Jun 01, 2011
- Violated ISI, LeT spy code to share secrets with Rana: Headley - May 27, 2011
- Geelani questioned by police - Mar 07, 2012
- US not ready to link Pakistan aid to action against LeT - Oct 28, 2011
- Rana held not guilty in Mumbai attacks, guilty of aiding LeT (Third Lead) - Jun 10, 2011
- Court accepts 26/11 charges against Headley, 8 Pakistanis (Lead) - Feb 18, 2012
- Rana cleared in Mumbai attacks, convicted of aiding LeT (Second Lead) - Jun 10, 2011
- India to seek extradition of 26/11 accused from US, Pakistan - Jan 30, 2012
Tags: admiral, claire mccaskill, cricketers, isi, jack reed, killings, lashkar e taiba, maples, operational space, pakistan government, pakistani government, pakistanis, particulars, senator jack reed, senator mccaskill, sri lankan cricket, sri lankan cricket team, sympathizers, taking steps, visa waivers