Pakistan arrests alleged terrorist leaders of large group

Washington Times:

Lashkar-e-Taiba will not be crippled by Monday's arrest of the purported mastermind of the Mumbai attacks and at least 19 other members of the militant group, a Lashkar coordinator said.

"We´re still well-organized and active," said the militant, who serves as a coordinator for the group, which has a large following despite being outlawed in 2002.

The 20 members of Lashkar-e-Taiba were arrested Monday amid growing criticism that Pakistan has allowed the militant group to continue operating openly, despite claims to the contrary.

The Lashkar coordinator spoke with The Washington Times in a safe house near Lahore, Pakistan's second-largest city, on the condition of anonymity - presumably to avoid arrest.

He said Lashkar's strength in Pakistan was in the thousands.

Pakistan on Monday announced the arrest of Zaki-u-Rehman Lakhvi, who was among 20 arrested during a raid in Muzaffarabad in the Pakistan-controlled portion of Kashmir.

Indian media reports have identified Mr. Lakhvi as the organizer of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai that killed 172 people and raised tensions between India and Pakistan - two nuclear-armed nations that have fought three wars.

The Lashkar fighter in Lahore said the group has "huge strength" and is concentrated in Pakistan's tribal areas on the border with Afghanistan.

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There is much more.

This is the first report I have seen where the LET spokesman indicates they are now concentrated in the Afghan border region. If that is true the attacks make some strategic sense as an attempt to distract Pakistan form its operations against their forces in that area. I think it also ties in with their recent offensive against NATO supply lines through Pakistan.

Fox News reports that Pakistan is refusing to turn those arrested over to India for a trial and will try them in Pakistan. I think this is a huge mistake. No matter what the results of the trial, Pakistan will be a loser. If they are acquitted, it will be seen as a miscarriage of justice. If they are convicted, their followers in Pakistan will not accept the verdict.

If they were turned over to India, it would also help Pakistan get a better handle on the terrorist within, because of the fear of being sent to India.