Friday, July 15 2005 14:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Although Pakistan-based militant organization - Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) has denied its involvement in Tuesday's (July 05, 2005) suicide attack on the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the assertions by the Indian security forces on the contrary can affect the pace of the ongoing peace talks between the two nuclear-neighbours.

As a result of the terror attack, Ayodhya has once again shaken the subcontinent, 13 years after the demolition of the Babri mosque by BJP-led mobs. Pakistan has condemned the raid and expressed the hope that the detente with India would not be affected. The condemnation was essential for Islamabad to make its views on the incident known, because some communal organizations in India began blaming Pakistan immediately after the attack. However, the Indian security agencies reportedly suspect the hand of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba, saying the Lashkar had been planning to target the Ram Janambhoomi complex for long.

Police suspects Lashkar

The Indian security forces have informed their government that after striking the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar in 2002, the Lashkar had planned a suicide attack in Ayodhya to arouse communal passions and trigger riots the same year, ahead of the anniversary of demolition of the disputed structure. But the plan could not be executed as the terrorists assigned the task were killed in an encounter with Delhi Police in Tughlakhabad in South Delhi in November 2002 while they were on their way to Ayodhya. The plot reportedly came to light after the Indian Border Security Forces killed a Lashkar militant in Budgam in Kashmir in August 2002. The plan was contained in a laptop computer recovered from the LeT militant. Examination of the computer disclosed the plan to carry out a suicide attack on Amarnath pilgrims that year.

However, the LeT spokesman, Yahya Mujahid, denies the charges and maintains that the attack was a deep-rooted conspiracy masterminded by India 's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) to embarrass Islamabad on the diplomatic front. "We have nothing to do with the Ayodhya Temple attack. Nor do we have any idea about the attackers and their affiliation", said a bearded Yahya Mujahid who is also the central secretary information of the Jamaatul Daawa, which is the parent organization of the LeT. Asked whether the former chief of the Lashkar, Hafiz Saeed, would condemn the attack and the attackers, Yahya quoted his leader as saying: "It is an internal matter of India and we can't comment on that". When reminded of the Pakistan government's condemnation of the attack, the militant leader was quoted as having said: "We follow our conscience, not the Pakistan government which is headed by an American stooge".