LeT arrests only of symbolic value: defence analysts

Pakistan’s ‘crackdown’ on the Lashkar-e-Toiba leadership is only of symbolic value and will have little effect on curbing operations of the banned outfit unless the financial network of the militant organisation is dismantled, feel analysts within the Indian defence establishment.

Pakistan’s ‘crackdown’ on the Lashkar-e-Toiba leadership is only of symbolic value and will have little effect on curbing operations of the banned outfit unless the financial network of the militant organisation is dismantled, feel analysts within the Indian defence establishment.

Terming the arrest of LeT functionaries, including Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi who is said to be the brain behind the Mumbai attack, as not being of much significance, analysts say it is not likely to make any visible impact on the ‘mischief making’ capability of the organisation. “There is nothing new in what has been done. Earlier too, they cracked down and arrested a few people (after the 2001 Parliament attack). These banned organisations started working again under different names. The arrests are only of symbolic value,” said a senior officer.

Pakistan is reported to have arrested over 20 functionaries of the outfit after raiding several camps of the LeT in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The arrests have raised an alarm in LeT ranks operating in Kashmir but the Armed Forces do not expect any significant change on the ground level unless the entire terror mechanism, including training camps and financial assistance organisations, is dismantled.

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The latest intelligence reports suggest that no moves have yet been made to pull down camps or other training infrastructure along the LoC. The Army has also not detected any movement of the Pakistani Armed Forces across the border that suggests that they are preparing for military action.

While the defence establishment is confident of carrying out strong punitive action against terror camps in Pakistan, analysts feel cracking down on a few installations will not be of much strategic value as similar camps will spring up at a different place later.

“There are no short-term solutions. Destroying a few camps means nothing as long as the raw material and terror factories remain. A change will be visible only if major action is taken to crack down on the financial network and front organisations that gather funds from the Gulf,” said a defence analyst.at

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