While the world's attention has been focused on the war in Afghanistan, tensions between India and Pakistan have been slowly building. A series of terrorist attacks on India has raised the specter of war once again between these two South Asian nations. Given the dangers involved -- both countries have exploded nuclear devices -- calm must prevail. Even if there is no direct involvement of Pakistani-supported Islamic fundamentalists in the latest attack, Islamabad must rein in the separatists it has nurtured over the years. Support for such groups -- terrorists, no matter what ideology they cloak themselves in -- must end.
The most recent attack occurred last week when five terrorists drove a vehicle into India's Parliament and began shooting. The legislature was in session; hundreds of politicians and many of the country's leaders were present. Home Minister L. K. Advani said the bold attack aimed at "wiping out the entire political leadership." Fortunately, mass bloodshed was averted: In addition to the gunmen, ten other people were killed.
No group has taken responsibility for the attack, but India has accused Pakistan of complicity in the operation, pointing the finger at Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, two groups that have been linked to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, the country's powerful intelligence agency. The five gunmen were identified as Pakistani nationals. Four men have been arrested in connection with the assault, and Indian police officials claim that one has admitted to being trained at a camp run by the ISI. Pakistan has denied any connection to the attack, condemned the assault and has offered to participate in a joint inquiry, an offer that India has rejected.