Militants who orchestrated the 26/11 attacks on India might have been trying to prevent the Pakistan Government from moving its army away from the Indian border, U.S. diplomatic cables suggest. Officials in London feared that the Indians would retaliate with an increase in covert activities in Balochistan or even by bombarding militant camps in Occupied Kashmir.

“If the militant's plan was to force the Pakistani Army to re-focus on its eastern border and eliminate any chance (however slight) of moving forces from the Indian border to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), then their plan may have succeeded,” Gerald Feierstein, the current US Ambassador to Yemen told Washington in November last year.

“The Mumbai attacks likely to have torpedoed any prospect of Indian confidence building measures on Kashmir in the immediate future,” he added.

The cable also read that the UK High Commission is suggesting to London that they press the Pakistan government for quick, credible action in the form of arrests of LeT leaders to prevent a feared Indian backlash.

“The UK officials noted that after the attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul, the GOI (Indian Government) halted the Composite Dialogue, but this time speculated they will feel the need to respond with force rather than diplomacy. They fear a response could include, at a minimum, increase GOI covert activities in Balochistan or even an aerial bombardment of LeT (Lashkar-e-Toiba) camps in Azad, Jammu and Kashmir,” the US diplomat said.

He added that the UK was “overreacting” to the situation and the British High Commission in Islamabad proposed that UK top brass call Pakistani authorities with the message that Pakistan must act immediately before New Delhi demands more.

“The UK mission is suggesting to London that the UK call for credible actions, perhaps to include arresting senior LeT leaders and 'permanently closing down the infrastructure of the militancy,' Feierstein told Washington.

India Wikileaks United kingdom India