New Delhi, January 20: Expressing concern over the fragile balance of peace in South Asia, which may snap at the slightest provocation, US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates on Wednesday warned that terror organizations like LeT are ganging up with al Qaeda for another Mumbai type attack on India and this time the situation will surely lead to war like situation between India and Pakistan.
"India has responded with great restraint and statesmanship after the Mumbai terror attacks. But the ability to continue with it after another attack is under question... It is not reasonable to assume that Indian patience is unlimited in case of another attack," Gates said at a press conference here after meeting Indian Defence Minister AK Antony.
When asked if he had warned the Indian leadership of another imminent attack by terrorist outfits, Gates said there is better cooperation among states at present.
"I think there is very close cooperation not only between India and the US but other powers also. They also give warning information about such attacks or if some planning is going on," Gates added.
“Groups under Al-Qaeda's syndicate in Afghanistan and Pakistan are trying to destabilize not just Afghanistan and Pakistan, but potentially the whole region by provoking a conflict perhaps between India and Pakistan," Gates added.
Gates’ statement came days after a study from the US’s Council on Foreign Relations, which also had warned of another major terrorist attack by Pakistan-based terrorist organisations in the near future.
“The threat of another Mumbai-type attack is undeniable. Numerous Pakistan-based groups remain motivated and are ready to strike Indian targets,” Daniel Markey, a leading South Asia expert had remarked.
Gates yesterday met the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and appealed for closer military cooperation between America and India to bring stability to South Asia.
Gates came to India ahead of his trip to Pakistan. He had last visited the Indian capital February 2008.
His visit was preceded by another senior official in the Barack Obama administration, US special envoy Richard Holbrooke, who was here Monday to confer with Indian officials ahead of the London conference on Afghanistan.
--Agencies
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