US fears another 26/11 type attack on India

The United States has expressed fears of yet another Mumbai type attack on India aimed at igniting a war with Pakistan.

Talking to media-persons on his special aircraft en route to New Delhi, United States Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen, while praising India for showing restraint after the ghastly 26/11 attacks, said extremists may try to repeat the incident that left 166 dead and over 300 injured.

I've worried a great deal about a repeat attack, of something like that, The Dawn newspaper quoted Mullen as saying.

Mullen stressed that he along with the Obama administration is focussed on making sure "this doesn't happen again".

He pointed out that the Mumbai terror attacks showed how a handful of militants could have a "strategic impact" and bring two nuclear-powered nations on the threshold of a full-scale military conflict.

"One of the things that struck me then and is still of great concern is that those terrorists could bring two countries closer (to possible conflict). It didn't bring them to the brink (of war) but it brought them closer," Mullen said.

Responding to a question over India's stand that Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence had provided support to the Mumbai attackers, Mullen said after the incident he had conveyed his "grave concern" to that country, including the ISI leadership.

Mullen also acknowledged that the Obama administration has certain 'disagreements' with the ISI over its alleged links with militant organisations fighting against the US led allied forces in Afghanistan.

"The United States sometimes seeks "certain clarifications" from the ISI "on why certain things are done," the top US military official said.

Mullen is likely to visit Islamabad also following his two-day tour to India.