Tensions between India and Pakistan are swiftly rising in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks which killed at least 174 people in India’s financial capital. Adding to the already long held bitter rivalry between the South Asian neighbors is the reported confession of the only gunman to be captured in the attacks who is said to have told Indian security services he belongs to the Pakistan based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, a terror organization with deep involvement in the Himalayan region of Kashmir, a territory whose ownership has long been disputed by India and Pakistan.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has even taken the unusual step of directly appealing to the Indian government for restraint in the wake of the attacks. Zardari made great pains to disassociate his government from having any role in the terror attacks, pointing out that Pakistan has been busy fighting Lakshar allies like the Taliban and Al Qaeda in its Western tribal regions for years. Things however are not always so clear in the murky underworld of South Asian politics. Many security experts around the world view Lakshar as a creation of Pakistan’s infamous ISS intelligence services, however how much ISS is even under government control in Pakistan at this point is unknown given the complicated and turbulent changes in leadership in the country.

What is known is that South Asia, one of the most dangerous areas of the world due to the nuclea armed rivalry between India and Pakistan just got even more dangerous. You can takepart by contacting the Indian Embassy and urging restraint from the Indian government at this crucial time.

LINKS:

Financial Times: India - Ministers offer to quit over Mumbai attacks

Dallas Morning News: Pakistan isn’t involved in attacks, Ambassador says

AP: Mumbai cemetery won’t bury gunmen