Standoff Between India and Pakistan; Strategic Insights: v.1, issue 1 (March 2002)

Abstract

On December 13, 2001 the Indian parliament was attacked by terrorists who India claimed belonged to two Pakistan-based militant outfits: Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Pakistan's government denied that any groups based in its country carried out the attacks. Despite this denial, a number of Indian political leaders urged their government to take strong action against Pakistan. Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpai's announced that India will respond to this act of terrorism, and that the use of military force will be one possible option. Pakistan in turn mobilized its army. The United States and other members of the international community have urged both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint. The Bush administration has recognized the right of the Indian government to resort to force for self-defense if diplomatic measures should fail. At the same time, the U.S. government included Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed on its list of foreign terrorist organizations, and asked Pakistan's leaders to take tough measures against terrorist groups operating from their territory. This document assesses the present build-up of military forces in both sides of India and Pakistan and what this might lead to.