Attacks by Pakistan-based groups most lethal strain of terror in India: US cables

Attacks by Pakistan-based terror groups, "sometimes with the support of elements" in the government there, are the "most lethal strain" of terrorism in India, according to a secret US cable made public by WikiLeaks.

"Terrorism conducted by 'jihadi' groups based in Pakistan - and sometimes with the support of elements of the GOP (government of Pakistan) - is historically the most lethal and the most politically volatile strain of terrorism in India," said the cable from the US embassy in New Delhi in 2006 before the April 19 US-India counter-terrorism joint working group.

Reflecting improved counter-insurgency policies, civilian fatalities from terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir have substantially decreased from 2001-2004 - approximately 20% decrease each year, it said citing Indian government statistics and a leading independent Indian terrorism expert.

The data for the first nine months of 2005 showed a continued decline, but "a spike in lethal attacks after the October 8 earthquake resulted in the 2005 levels being roughly equal to those for 2004," said the cable.

The United States, which has accused WikiLeaks, of stealing its secret cables, has however, refused to either deny or confirm the authenticity of these documents.

"Since January 2005, 'jihadis' have carried out or are believed to be responsible for lethal attacks at three popular markets on Diwali and Jama Masjid, both in Delhi, as well as Ayodhya, Varanasi and Bangalore, in addition to the litany of deadly bombings and shootings in J&K itself.

"These new targets in the Hindi heartland and the South reflect a new and dangerous trend that bears close watching," the cable said.

Referring to the series of terrorist attacks inside Kashmir, it said foreign terrorist organisations Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), at times operating through front names from camps in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for many of these attacks.

Some of these groups maintain ties with al-Qaeda, although the Indian government takes pride in claiming there is no direct al-Qaeda presence in the country outside of Kashmir, it said.