My review of Stephen Tankel's book Storming the World Stage: The Story of Lashkar-e-Taiba has been published by Contemporary South Asia, Vol. 21, No. 3, 2013, pp. 83-84.
Stephen Tankel's book, Storming the world stage, is a tour de force on the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT or Lashkar). LeT is one of most capable militant groups that has carried out acts of terrorism in India over the past two decades. This comprehensive study provides plenty of details on the origins, organisation, and operations of the LeT. Tankel shows that the LeT is the leading group among the various militant organisations supported by Pakistan that act as proxies in the ongoing confrontation with India.
Storming the world stage begins with a comprehensive overview of the range of militant organisations active in Pakistan. It then goes on to delve into the origins of the Lashkar noting its origins and continuing ties with the religious, missionary organisation now known as Jamaat-ul Dawa (JuD). Tankel traces the various identities the group has assumed over the years as well as showing how LeT has been supported by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The latter part of the book charts the growth and expansion of LeT's capabilities such that it was able to mount terror operations like the Mumbai attacks of November 2008, of course, with ISI's support. Pakistan's reaction, or rather the lack of any action, following the US announcement of a US$10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of LeT chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed in April 2012 highlights Lashkar's favoured status.
1 comments:
Good going!-Sameer
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