US and India working together to contain LeT

WASHINGTON: Renewing focus on Pakistani terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba ( LeT), a top US military commander has described it as a "dangerous" outfit with "a lot of international design."

Claiming that the group boasts of good "operational security," Admiral Robert Willard, the PACOM Commander, told the US Congress that America and India were working together to contain LeT.

Willard said Pakistan-based LeT is a very dangerous organisation. It not only has very good operational security, but also a lot of international design in terms of their aspirations.

"So it is a very important threat, and we're working very closely with the nations in the region to help contain it," he said.

The PACOM Commander was responding to a question from Congressman Joe Wilson as to what effort was being made to counteract threat from LeT.

In his prepared statement, Willard told lawmakers that the US and India were working together on containing LeT: "Responsible for many attacks in India, including the horrific attacks into Mumbai, LeT is headquartered in Pakistan, affiliated with Al Qaida and other VEOs, and contributes to terrorist operations in Afghanistan and aspires to operate against Asia, Europe and North America."

In 2011, he said Pacific Command's Indian Engagement Initiative resourced and hosted Mumbai counter-terrorist specialists for training, exercises, and exchanges throughout the US.

He said Washington with South Asian partners was mainly focused on containing LeT and contributing to counter-terrorism self-sufficiency of the sub-region's militaries.