India demands crackdown on Pakistan-based militants

The Indian government has demanded that Pakistan crack down on two Kashmir militant groups, one of which it has blamed for yesterday’s attack on the parliament building in New Delhi.

Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh said his country has issued a formal complaint with Pakistan because it believes the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyaba group was responsible for yesterday’s attack.

The complaint demands that Pakistan arrest the leaders of Lashkar and another group, Jaish-e-Mohammed, both of which are fighting for independence in the Indian province of Kashmir.

India has long accused Pakistan of financing, training and harbouring Islamic militant groups operating in Kashmir. Now India wants its bitter enemy to arrest rebel leaders and freeze the financial assets of all organisations connected to “terrorism”.

Around a dozen Islamic groups have been fighting for an independent Kashmir since 1989.

The province is currently divided between India and Pakistan, who have fought three wars over the region since 1947. India recently threatened to start another war with Pakistan because of the ongoing independence movement in Kashmir.