US Intel Focusing In On Pakistani Group In Mumbai Probe

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U.S. Intelligence Focuses on Pakistani Group
By MARK MAZZETTI
Published: November 28, 2008


WASHINGTON — American intelligence and counterterrorism officials said Friday there is mounting evidence that a Pakistani militant group long focused on the conflict in Kashmir, most likely Lashkar- e-Taiba, is responsible for the deadly attacks in Mumbai.

The American officials cautioned that they have reached no hard conclusions about who was responsible for the operation, as well as how it was planned and carried out. Nevertheless, they said that evidence gathered over the past two days pointed to a role for Lashkar-e-Taiba, or possibly another Pakistani group based in Kashmir, Jaish-e-Muhammad.

The American officials insisted on anonymity in describing their current thinking declined to discuss the intelligence information that they said pointed to Kashmiri militants.

Lashkar-e-Taiba on Thursday denied any responsibility for the terrorist strikes. American intelligence agencies believe Lashkar-e-Taiba has in the past received some training and logistical support t from Pakistan’s powerful spy service, the Directorate for Inter-services Intelligence, or I.S.I.. American officials said Friday that there was no evidence that the Pakistani government had any role in the Mumbai attacks.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/world/asia/29intel.html?_r=1