‘Mumbai like attack may pave way for Pak-India confrontation’

NEW DELHI (SANA): Praising India for showing restraint in the aftermath of the Mumbai carnage, Mike Mullen, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff feared that extremists might repeat Mumbai like attack in a bid to push two nuclear-armed powers towards a potential conflict.

Speaking to reporters on board his plane bound for New Delhi, the US military’s top-ranking officer said Thursday he feared extremists might launch another attack on India, similar to the 2008 rampage in Mumbai, in a bid to spark a war with Pakistan.

“I’ve worried a great deal about a repeat attack, of something like that,” Mullen said, adding that he wanted “to focus on making sure this doesn’t happen again.”

India said the assault was carried out by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-i-Taiba militant group and abetted by “official agencies” in Pakistan.

Mullen said the attack showed how a small group of extremists could have a “strategic impact” and push two nuclear-armed powers towards a potential conflict.

“One of the things that struck me then and is still of great concern is that those terrorists could bring two countries closer (to possible conflict),” he said.

“It didn’t bring them to the brink (of war) but it brought them closer,” he said.

In the immediate aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, Mullen said he had conveyed his “grave concern” to Pakistan, including the leadership of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Asked about the intelligence service’s alleged links to some extremists, including those fighting Nato-led troops in Afghanistan, Mullen acknowledged disagreements with the ISI.

The United States sometimes seeks “certain clarifications” from the ISI “on why certain things are done,” he said.

The Obama administration, however, needs “to stay engaged” with the intelligence agency and recognises that it plays a crucial role in providing for Pakistan’s security, he said.

“We differ on the specifics on how that should be done,” said Mullen, who was due to head to Pakistan after his two-day stop in India.

During his visit, Indian officials were expected to raise the threat posed by Pakistan-linked militant groups.

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