India-Pakistan Peace Process at Risk

London – (BP) Government officials in India insist the terrorists responsible for last week’s attacks in Mumbai had links to Pakistan, and have demanded the Pakistani government hand over some 20 fugitives believed to be hiding in Pakistan. Islamabad has not responded to the request but has offered India a joint investigation into the attacks.

India’s home minister and the chief and deputy chief ministers of Maharashtra state have resigned amid criticism of the government’s handling of the crisis. At least 188 people are now known to have died in the attacks.

Intelligence officials outside India have said there are “strong indications” that the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba group was behind the attacks. Lashkar-e-Toiba is a Jihadi organization based in Indian-administered Kashmir. It has been blamed for hundreds of attacks in the region since 1990 and is listed as a “terrorist group” by the United States and the United Kingdom. One of the gunmen involved in the Mumbai attacks survived and police have said he is “certainly” from Pakistan.

Observers of the political and military disputes in the Kashmir region of South Asia will perhaps have cause for concern when Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said a military response was not being considered, but that if Pakistan did not act the bilateral peace process would be at risk, according to the Press Trust of India news agency. Tensions between India and Pakistan continue to mount. It has been reported that even Taliban fighters engaged with Pakistani soldiers along its border with Afghanistan have suggested a cease-fire to allow troops to be moved to Pakistan’s border with India.

The investigation into the Mumbai attacks continues, with FBI and Scotland Yard personnel assisting Indian authorities. It remains to be seen what group is ultimately responsible for the attacks, but a massive diplomatic effort will be required from the U.S. and the U.K. to ease tensions between India and Pakistan, two countries with a long history of conflict over the Kashmir region and both with nuclear weapons capabilities.