ISI Also behind the Pulwama Attack: US Security Experts

The involvement of the terror organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad in the terrorist attack in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir has raised serious questions about the role of Pakistan’s spy agency, ISI. The US security experts have raised the issue, which concerns not only India but also the world community.

Soon after the attack, the Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammad has claimed the responsibility of the attack that has killed more than 40 Indian security personnel and many are seriously wounded. The terror strike also proved that the world community, in particular, the United States has failed to persuade Pakistan to act against Jaish-e-Mohammad and other terrorist groups. It proves that the terror outfit is getting support from other organisations as well as ISI.

Former CIA analyst, Bruce Riedel has told news agency PTI, “The self-proclaimed involvement of JeM in the attack raises serious questions about the role of the ISI in supporting the masterminds of this operation”.

Riedel, who is now a scholar associated with the Brookings Institute think-tank said, the terrorist attack, which has direct footprints inside Pakistan, poses the first major challenges to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan. Thus, “This will be a real challenge for Imran Khan, the first serious challenge of his administration”.

Meanwhile, a former National Security Council official, Anish Goel associated with Obama administration has also said the attack also proved that the Pakistan based terrorist groups are still active in Kashmir. He also said, that taking the responsibility immediately after the attack, Jaish-e-Mohammed is clearly indicating that it will continue to create trouble in the region, inciting tensions between Pakistan and India.

Meanwhile, security analyst, Alyssa Ayres associated with the Council on Foreign Relations said, “Unfortunately, the attack also shows the limits of US and international policy efforts to date to persuade Pakistan to take serious action against these groups. The urgent question is what else the international community can do”. 

The US-based Hindu American Foundation said, the latest attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed has proved that how Pakistan’s intelligence services are continuing to sponsor terrorist incursions into India.

The foundation also says, it is heartening to see, how the international community is unequivocally condemning the attack, but such statements of solidarity must be backed up by some concrete actions, which can help to bring an end to the ability of such terrorist groups to regroup and kill with impunity and destabilize the region. This will be the real tribute to the martyrs.