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CNN Live Today

Al Qaeda May Be Adding to Rising Tensions Between India, Pakistan

Aired May 30, 2002 - 13:13   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Right now, we want to get back to the story about India and Pakistan and the rising tensions there and the possible role of al Qaeda in elevating those tensions. Our national security correspondent, David Ensor, joins us live from Washington. David, what do you know?

DAVID ENSOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, as John King mentioned a few minutes ago, U.S. officials are telling me that several days ago India began work to arm some of its medium-range missiles with conventional warheads. These are missiles which are also capable of carrying nuclear warheads, and that's why this development is so dangerous, U.S. officials say, because if India were to fire one of these missiles at Pakistan, the Pakistanis would not know which kind of warhead was headed in their direction. Both India and Pakistan tested nuclear weapons back in 1998. Tension are rising rapidly with reports that India and Pakistan between them have deployed over a million men along their boarder and along the line of control in disputed Kashmir.

There is U.S. intelligence agency reports that estimates -- that estimates that an all-out nuclear war between the two nations could kill six to 12 million people. Now with its much smaller forces, Pakistan has refused to rule out the first use of nuclear weapons.

U.S. officials are also telling us that Muslim militants in Kashmir and in Pakistan appear to be trying to spark a war by acts of terrorism against Indian targets.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ENSOR (voice-over): With India and Pakistan on a hair trigger over Kashmir, is al Qaeda fomenting conflict to distract Pakistan from pursuing terrorists? U.S. officials call it a real concern, citing what they call "clear links" between al Qaeda and militant Islamic groups, which have stepped up terrorism against Indian targets in recent weeks and months.

KARL INDERFURTH, FORMER ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE: They want to see these countries go to war, because Musharraf is certainly on al Qaeda's most-wanted list, because he has sided with the U.S. on the war on terrorism, and they clearly support the jihadists who are trying to wrestle Kashmir away from India. ENSOR: As tension have increased, Pakistan have continued to transfer forces from the border with Afghanistan, where they were looking for al Qaeda and Taliban remnants, to the border with India.

There's no evidence connecting al Qaeda to the militant attack on the Indian Parliament last December or subsequent attacks on Indian targets, though U.S. officials say some of the groups believed involved have links to bin Laden and may be coordinating their actions.

Al Qaeda may also be attempting through allies to destabilize the nuclear-armed government of America's key ally, Pervez Musharraf. There are signs, say U.S. and Pakistani officials, that the May 8th bombing of a bus in Karachi that killed 14 people, most of them French, can be linked to al Qaeda.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ENSOR: So, as U.S. diplomatic efforts intensify to try to avert a war between India and Pakistan, U.S. officials say they see this evidence that al Qaeda, people in the Pakistan, may be trying to push in the opposite direction for war -- Carol.

LIN: All right. Thank you very much. David Ensor. Scary scenario there.

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