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Last update - 13:32 28/11/2008
ANALYSIS / Is Al-Qaida behind the Mumbai terror attacks?
By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel news, Mumbai chabad 

Click here for more articles by Yossi Melman

A previously little-known group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the series of attacks that rocked Mumbai over the last two days.

The organization is named for Hyderabad, a mainly Muslim southern Indian city. It previously claimed responsibility for last May's series of explosions in Jaipur, which killed 70 people.
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Indian security authorities, however, believe the group is actually a front for the Muslim terrorist organization Lashkar a-Tayeb ("army of believers"), established in 1989 by Pakistani intelligence.

This assessment is based partly on the interrogation of nine members who were arrested. They revealed that 60 to 70 terrorists, some of whom came to Mumbai by boat, carried out the current attacks. Weapons and a stash of grenades were found in one of the boats after its passengers came ashore.

Pakistani intelligence founded, aided and cultivated this and other militant organizations as part of its battle against India in the contested region of Kashmir. It was only in 2003, after 9/11 and under heavy pressure from India and the United States, that the organization and similar ones were outlawed in Pakistan.

Chabad center in Mumbai

Experts believe the main goal of Lashkar a-Tayeb is to destabilize India by damaging its economy and its fragile ethnic mix while fomenting dissent among India's large Muslim minority.

The organization, which is on the list of outlawed terror organization in many countries, seeks to end what it considers India's occupation of Kashmir. Its ideological platform combines anti-Western ideas (which explains its choice of hotels popular with Westerners in its list of targets) with those of global jihad and of hatred toward India.

In the past, the group had strong links to Osama Bin Laden, and its members trained in Al-Qaida camps in Afghanistan. Abu Zubaydah, considered one of the most senior Al-Qaida officials being held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, was captured in March 2002 in a joint operation by United States and Pakistani intelligence forces at a Lashkar a-Tayeb safe house.

Slow response

In the first several hours after the Mumbai incidents began, the response of the Indian authorities was slow, confused and inefficient. The first forces sent to the scene were inexperienced local police officers, who suffered many casualties as a result.

It took some time before military and security authorities realized the scope of the attack and deployed skilled security forced, including army and navy commando units, to the 10 attack sites. These units, and in particular the National Security Guard's Black Cats commando force, have an impressive operational record, especially in Kashmir and against the Pakistani army.

They operate in accordance with the British military tradition, and are trained by equivalent British special forces such as the Secret Intelligence Service, as well as by U.S. special forces units. According to Indian analysts, these units also maintain contacts with similar units in Israel.

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      1.   Terror ? These are murderous perverts 19:57  |  Brahma 27/11/08
      2.   Cut the semantics and behead the beheaders 20:23  |  can ni bal 27/11/08
      3.   Doubtful 20:26  |  Mark Lincoln 27/11/08
      4.   Decca Mujahideen Safehouse 20:34  |  David Rochlin 27/11/08
      5.   Blame it on the Falafel 20:44  |  Alex 27/11/08
      6.   You caugt that too David? 21:07  |  Mark Lincoln 27/11/08
      7.   army of believers??? 21:12  |  Indian 27/11/08
      8.   "terrorists traveled to Mumbai by boat" 21:29  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/11/08
      9.   Actually, Cipora #8, those things point to a local operation. 22:55  |  Che Vive 27/11/08
      10.   Cipora - take your pick, speculation or what is being learned 23:04  |  Mark Lincoln 27/11/08
      11.   When considering the style - Cipora - and everyone 23:15  |  Mark Lincoln 27/11/08
      12.   "..witnesses at the cafe that was attacked referred to them as 23:26  |  Jew- and Bookburner 27/11/08
      13.   #9, Che Vie 23:34  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/11/08
      14.   it does look like al qaeda...be interesting to find out 00:21  |  who trained them and 28/11/08
      15.   Mark Lincoln #10 ha ha 00:34  |  imran 28/11/08
      16.   can we just wait for the facts first? 00:35  |  p.man 28/11/08
      17.   knee jerk cry of `Pakistan` 00:54  |  examiner 28/11/08
      18.   Indian, but Obama said: "Help is on the way" 01:53  |  Genuine Tosefta 28/11/08
      19.   A Warning 02:01  |  The Teacher/Instruct 28/11/08
      20.   #9, Che Vie 02:05  |  Sonny 28/11/08
      21.   Indian? Pakistan has also been hit by this same terrorism 02:16  |  now is not the time 28/11/08
      22.   AL-QAEIDA`S THREATS CARRIED OUT 02:16  |  VIPER 28/11/08
      23.   knee jerk cry of `Pakistan` 03:48  |  Mark Lincoln 28/11/08
      24.   Pakistan HAS been hit by terrorism 04:00  |  Mark Lincoln 28/11/08
      25.   Israeli cooperation 04:42  |  GM_King 28/11/08
      26.   And who trained them 06:32  |  Mark Lincoln 28/11/08
      27.   Teacher/Instruct 07:07  |  Peter Williams 28/11/08
      28.   #17, examiner 07:11  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/11/08
      29.   Yes 07:40  |  Yanatan 28/11/08
      30.   Eyewitnesses speak of foreign looking gunmen 07:41  |  Alexandria 28/11/08
      31.   Closing In On Bin-Laden 07:41  |  Yanatan 28/11/08
      32.   THEY ARE WORSE THAN AL QAEDA 07:52  |  indrajaya 28/11/08
      33.   Mark Lincoln.A classic `blowback" by classic biting the hand-- 07:57  |  PETER SM 28/11/08
      34.   EXAMINER it is Tariq Ali`s interest to maximise "poor Moslems". 08:04  |  PETER SM 28/11/08
      35.   #26 & whoever 08:42  |  Kate 28/11/08
      36.   Speculation.... 08:50  |  Esther 28/11/08
      37.   p.man #16... there`s a plethora or "facts" already... 09:03  |  Esther 28/11/08
      38.   We will NEVER know who is behind it 09:36  |  isratinian 28/11/08
      39.   What training? 10:48  |  spyguy 28/11/08
      40.   PETER SM #34 Why? 11:04  |  examiner 28/11/08
      41.   teacher/insructor 19 11:49  |  potobac 28/11/08
      42.   PETER SM #34 Why? 12:03  |  examiner 28/11/08
      43.   Too early to know 13:44  |  MiddleStanian 28/11/08
      44.   Looks like Jihad to me 14:06  |  g.e. 28/11/08
      45.   Mumbai Attack 14:27  |  Ruz 28/11/08
      46.   isratinian # 38 Use The Process Of Elimination 14:39  |  Jeff Northridge 28/11/08
      47.   "..witnesses at the cafe that was attacked referred to them as 14:41  |  Reeza 28/11/08
      48.   Mumbai Attack 14:53  |  zee 28/11/08
      49.   Mumbai Attack 15:01  |  Ruz 28/11/08
      50.   Looks like Jihad to me 15:08  |  Rouse 28/11/08
      51.   Brahma # 1. 15:10  |  David Nigel Braham 28/11/08
      52.   Speculation on top of speculation, local or foreign 15:31  |  Jacob Blues 28/11/08
      53.   Viper, 22 15:43  |  Harry 28/11/08
      54.   Hello, Teachings of Islam behind Terror Attacks 15:44  |  B 28/11/08
      55.   imran some times we have to lighten up 15:49  |  Mark Lincoln 28/11/08
      56.   The Pakistani and Indian leadership were cought sleeping 16:05  |  Simon 28/11/08
      57.   Brahma II 16:17  |  arik 28/11/08
      58.   #38 Isratinian, we already know 16:32  |  Alicia 28/11/08
      59.   The Bush Administration share the blame for this MESS 16:42  |  Zev Chohen 28/11/08
      60.   Interesting coverage from Karachi 16:51  |  Mark Lincoln 28/11/08
      61.   pakistan funded.. aided... cultivated,,,,theres more to that 17:26  |  ravi 28/11/08
      62.   "Interesting coverage" M.Lincoln.#50 18:03  |  yirmi 28/11/08
      63.   # 41 potobac 18:04  |  The Teacher/Instruct 28/11/08
      64.   Zev Chohen # 49. 18:13  |  David Nigel Braham 28/11/08
      65.   Defend Bush? Me? I guess so. 18:24  |  Mark Lincoln 28/11/08
      66.   Livni`s surrender to terrorism breeds more terrorism 18:31  |  Isaac Rubinstein 28/11/08
      67.   Yimi - I read Dawn regularly 18:33  |  Mark Lincoln 28/11/08
      68.   teacher/instructor 18:37  |  potobac 28/11/08
      69.   Lincoln-not your day is it? #53 18:49  |  yirmi 28/11/08
      70.   Isaac Rubinstein #54 go for Lieberman 18:53  |  rightist 28/11/08
      71.   WHITHER HAST YE GONE? 18:54  |  The Teacher/Instruct 28/11/08
      72.   I wish they were cowards - The Teacher/Instructor 18:55  |  Mark Lincoln 28/11/08
      73.   Golly you mean Israel is responsible? - Isaac Rubinstein 19:00  |  Mark Lincoln 28/11/08
      74.   isaac #54...post full of unfocussed hate, disgusting... 19:05  |  Esther 28/11/08
      75.   yimi - just try 19:11  |  Mark Lincoln 28/11/08
      76.   For Israeli news I monitor more than one paper 19:15  |  Mark Lincoln 28/11/08
      77.   The Indian anti-terrorist forces 19:41  |  ManintheMiddle 28/11/08
      78.   Ad hoc 70 hrs Mumbai facts analysis 19:48  |  H.H.M. 28/11/08
      79.   it does not matter so much as to which "brother in arms" did the 20:00  |  glenna 28/11/08
      80.   What were Jews doing in India? 20:12  |  Clickfool 28/11/08
      81.   Jews are also an integral part of India (Re;What were Jews doing 20:50  |  Ashish Patil 28/11/08
      82.   What were Brits doing in India? 20:57  |  Mark Lincoln 28/11/08
      83.   Clickfool 21:03  |  The Teacher/Instruct 28/11/08
      84.   Mark Lincoln 21:15  |  TonyL 28/11/08
      85.   Russia `ways` are the best to deal against Arabs-Moslems Terror . 21:18  |  Joseph.E 28/11/08
      86.   Clickfool (#69) How Nice of You 21:21  |  Gil 28/11/08
      87.   Ashish Patil - thanks 21:31  |  Mark Lincoln 28/11/08
      88.   The Indian Version 21:38  |  Parsu 28/11/08
      89.   Clickfool 21:38  |  TonyL 28/11/08
      90.   Mark Lincoln 21:43  |  TonyL 28/11/08
      91.   Urban Jihad 22:06  |  Max 28/11/08
      92.   Response (1) 22:30  |  PK 28/11/08
      93.   Response (2) 22:34  |  PK 28/11/08
      94.   ac 22:34  |  Arnab 28/11/08
      95.   Response (3) 22:36  |  PK 28/11/08
      96.   to Brahma my simpathies 22:37  |  CM 28/11/08
      97.   #71 is FAKE clickfool 22:40  |  obviously 28/11/08
      98.   to Clickfool who are you? 22:43  |  CM 28/11/08
      99.   Even If It Wasn`t Al-Qaida 22:57  |  Yosemite 28/11/08
      100.   To potobac # 59 23:15  |  The Teacher/Instruct 28/11/08
      101.   the attack of the terrorist losers.this is all that Muslem 23:18  |  steve 28/11/08
      102.   To some extent Al Qaida`s imprints are there 23:33  |  Prince 28/11/08
      103.   Re 72 00:25  |  Steve J 29/11/08
      104.   The Seaborn Assault was the Key Concept 01:09  |  Tim R. 29/11/08
      105.   I doubt it is Pakistan 01:11  |  Andreas Anonymous 29/11/08
      106.   teacher/instructor 01:15  |  potobac 29/11/08
      107.   The "oppressed Muslim" myth 01:24  |  Johanna Christie 29/11/08
      108.   Re:What were Jews doing in India? 03:55  |  Indian 29/11/08
      109.   Bush`s Lies About Islam Contributed To The Naivity 04:21  |  Ezer 29/11/08
      110.   Islamic terror 04:41  |  Vishnu 29/11/08
      111.   Only One Thing Is For Certain 04:54  |  Yosemite 29/11/08
      112.   Ezer - kinda losing it are you not? 05:28  |  Mark Lincoln 29/11/08
      113.   These Mumbai attacks are a bit like a looking glass 05:29  |  Mark Lincoln 29/11/08
      114.   WHO IS BEHIND WHAT? 07:05  |  Fritz 29/11/08
      115.   Yosemite - yes and no 07:15  |  Mark Lincoln 29/11/08
      116.   India is not equipped to handle this investigation 07:20  |  Secular Muslim 29/11/08
      117.   Response Visnu Islamic Terror 08:50  |  Secular Muslim 29/11/08
      118.   #115 Another Thing Mark Lincoln 09:11  |  Yosemite 29/11/08
      119.   To # 106 potobac from Soho NY 09:16  |  The Teacher/Instruct 29/11/08
      120.   STREAM OF BLOODS 11:10  |  SALAM 29/11/08
      121.   RE-TO YOSSI MELMAN(WHY IT TOOK SO LONG FOR THE ARMY TO RE) 12:33  |  HAFIZ 29/11/08
      122.   EXAMINER Not so fast.Books have been written on Ali 12:33  |  PETER SM 29/11/08
      123.   Buck Up India 13:14  |  Jiggs 29/11/08
      124.   Deceptive Politics 13:25  |  aad 29/11/08
      125.   PETER SM 14:02  |  examiner 29/11/08
      126.   Yosemite - Chabad 14:40  |  Mark Lincoln 29/11/08
      127.   choose life / get a life 15:39  |  a worldcitizen 29/11/08
      128.   Al-Quaida and other terrorists 17:27  |  Roxy 29/11/08
      129.   teacher/instructor 119 17:43  |  potobac 29/11/08
      130.   hafiz 121 17:54  |  potobac 29/11/08
      131.   After 9/11 18:21  |  Anonymous 29/11/08
      132.   anonymous 131 19:22  |  potobac 29/11/08
      133.   dominance of military and economic power 19:47  |  Anonymous 29/11/08
      134.   Esther Re:Isaac 20:17  |  Nemesis 29/11/08
      135.   again? 20:56  |  Bob 29/11/08
      136.   Does not appear to be Al-Qaida in Mumbai attack 21:01  |  Dennis MI VI 29/11/08
      137.   The entire axis of evil along with their supporters are behind it 21:16  |  offense not defense 29/11/08
      138.   Esther; #74 Thank You ! 22:28  |  Gray 29/11/08
      139.   Any justifications for mass murder? 23:23  |  Stranger 29/11/08
      140.   #134 The Next strike? Nigeria today betw.Moslems and Christians 23:31  |  Alicia 29/11/08
      141.   Offensive not defensive 23:39  |  Mark Lincoln 29/11/08
      142.   Who ever, dont get retribution on innocent people 23:43  |  Max 29/11/08
      143.   Al-Qaida is only one criminal gang among many 00:23  |  Simha 30/11/08
      144.   Esther; #74 Thank You ! 00:26  |  Gray 30/11/08
      145.   EXAMINER Ali is of the radical left and facts fit the agenda 01:33  |  PETER SM 30/11/08
      146.   U.S. nuclear technology to India. 04:06  |  Maureen Ann 30/11/08
      147.   Response Visnu Islamic Terror [ Secular Muslim 04:15  |  sapper 30/11/08
      148.   MAUREEN Pakistani nuclear technology to Al Qeida 04:22  |  PETER SM 30/11/08
      149.   U.S. nuclear technology to India. -Maureen Ann 05:22  |  Mark Lincoln 30/11/08
      150.   Alex #4 the ignorant 05:41  |  Mohammed 30/11/08
      151.   Yes 05:51  |  Ed Roberts 30/11/08
      152.   Clickfool #82, that was stupid "Jews doing in India" 05:56  |  Palestinian Prince 30/11/08
      153.   Indian Commandos 06:14  |  Jim 30/11/08
      154.   Pakistan the biggest terrorist 08:07  |  Rohit 30/11/08
      155.   Questions Can Point the Way 08:12  |  Rose Fields 30/11/08
      156.   Indian papers mention 12 terrorists. 08:13  |  Truth 30/11/08
      157.   Replyto indian 08:15  |  truth 30/11/08
      158.   johanna christie get your facts right 08:17  |  truth 30/11/08
      159.   heads to roll - troop build up 10:59  |  Rahul 30/11/08
      160.   The only way to fight terror 12:54  |  oom8 30/11/08
      161.   Indian Pride 13:11  |  The Teacher/Instruct 30/11/08
      162.   Indian Pride 13:35  |  The Teacher/Instruct 30/11/08
      163.   It does not matter... 17:42  |  J in Oregon 30/11/08
      164.   NSG Black Cats info. incorrect in your article 04:11  |  Austin Lobo 01/12/08
      165.   coment on Mr. Yossi Melman`s coment 08:37  |  Dr. Anant S Bhagwat. 16/12/08
      166.   Mr. Yossi`s coment 08:53  |  Dr. A S Bhagwat. 16/12/08
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