Israel has taken the unilateral decision of listing Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as a terror organisation. The decision comes amid growing criticism of the Israeli war on Palestine and Israel’s desperate search for allies outside the Western world.
The Israeli operation has evoked strong criticism among the developing and poor countries of the Global South. India is perhaps the lone exception among them to have come out in support of Israel in the wake of the Hamas attack and hostage taking on October 7 that led to Israel’s military action in Gaza.
By banning the LeT as a terrorist group, Israel wants to consolidate India’s position. The Israeli attempt is aimed at convincing the world, especially countries like India, that its current war against Hamas was a fight against terrorism.
LeT, the Pakistan-based group, had carried out the Mumbai terror attacks on 26/11, 2008, that left 166 people dead and several injured.
Four Israeli nationals were also among the dead.
In a statement on Tuesday, Israel said, “To symbolise the marking of the 15th year of commemoration of the Mumbai terror attacks, the state of Israel has listed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as a Terror Organization.”
Many of those who condemned the Hamas attack and hostage taking have also criticised the Israeli action and joined in the growing call for an immediate ceasefire.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to destroy Hamas and continue with the military operation until hostages are freed. India had abstained from a resolution last month in the UN General Assembly that called for a humanitarian truce in the Gaza operation.
Israel said, “Despite not being requested by the Government of India to do so, the state of Israel has formally completed all necessary procedures and has satisfied all required checks and regulations as a result of introducing Lashkar-e-Taiba into the Israeli list of illegal terror organizations.”
The 26/11 Mumbai terror attack
The Mumbai attacks were masterminded by Pakistan’s spy agency Inter-State-Intelligence (ISI) through LeT operatives.
Its aim was to scuttle India’s economic growth and deter foreign investors from coming to the country.
On November 26, 2008, ten terrorists of the LeT launched an attack that lasted for four days in Mumbai. They targeted two luxury hotels, one of the busiest railway stations in the country, a café popular with foreign tourists and Chabad House, a Jewish community centre.
The LeT was one of the most powerful terrorist groups in South Asia and known to be Pakistan’s most reliable proxy against India. The Mumbai attacks put it on the global map.
The United States, the United Nations and Australia have listed LeT as a terrorist organisation. Now Israel has joined them.
Israel said its decision to list LeT as a terrorist organisation was to highlight “the importance of a United Global Front in combating terrorism”.
The Israeli move could be aimed at urging India to declare Hamas a terrorist organisation officially. But the move against Lashkar also comes at a time when Pakistan is making overtures to Israel.
Pakistan-Israel relations
Pakistan does not recognise Israel and has no diplomatic relations with it. Past attempts by the two sides to establish relations were prevented because of strong domestic opposition. But Pakistan has taken a much more balanced stand on the current conflict and blamed Hamas for its terrorist attacks on Israel that began the conflict.
While it expressed concern for the cost of human lives, Pakistan has supported a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine problem. Pakistan’s stand coincides with some other Arab countries' decision to normalise ties with Israel.
Observers say Pakistan’s soft approach also has to do with keeping the US happy to ensure its crucial negotiations with the IMF for a bailout is not jeopardised by taking a tough line on Israel. A major incentive for Pakistan to establish diplomatic relations with Israel could have stemmed from its desire to dilute the strong strategic partnership that Tel Aviv and New Delhi enjoy.
Indian policy planners are aware of these developments and have factored in them while formulating the country's position on the ongoing war. India has maintained a balance between Israel and its stand on the Palestine issue. While condemning Hamas for its terrorist attack on Israel, India has also called for peace and dialogue and stressed the need for establishing a sovereign Palestine state living side by side with Israel.
Moreover, India has campaigned against terrorism over the past years to build global opinion against the menace. It couldn’t have remained silent when there was a terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel. In addition, Israel is a key defence and security partner of India and the two countries have cooperated in a number of areas since establishing full diplomatic relations in 1992.
A critical stand against Israel could jeopardise its strategic partnership with both Tel Aviv and Washington, Israel’s main backer. Whether this will lead to India declaring Hamas a terrorist organisation remains to be seen.
After all, to do that India will have to justify during its internal exercise as to how Hamas poses a terrorist threat to the country.
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