Indian Parliament Attack

Indian Parliament Attack

The Indian Parliament attack was a high-profile attack by Lakshar-E-Toiba and Jaish-E-Mohammed terrorists in 2001, on the building that houses the Parliament of India in Delhi. The attack was one of the main causes of the 2001-2002, India Pakistan standoff. Five policemen, a Parliament security guard, were killed, and 18 others were injured. However, no members of the government were hurt. India accused LeT and JeM of being behind the attack, even though the LeT denied any such accusations. Four JeM members were put on trial and found guilty. Pakistan refused Indian demands to hand over those suspected by Delhi of masterminding the attack. Delhi said Pakistan intelligence services helped organise the attack, a charge vigorously denied by Islamabad, which said it provided only moral and diplomatic support to militants. India demanded that Pakistan stop the activities of LeT and JeM, that Pakistan apprehend the organisations' leaders and that Pakistan curb the financial assets and the groups’ access to these assets.

In response to the Indian government's statements, Pakistani forces were put on high alert. For India, the 13 December 2001 attack on Parliament was the last straw in a series of attacks over the previous two years. According to L.K Advani it was a declaration of war against the country, as it aimed at wiping out political leadership. On 20 December, India mobilised and deployed its troops to Kashmir and Punjab. Pakistan also moved large numbers of its troops to the Indian border. Tensions escalated and there was a possibility of a nuclear war. However, both governments managed to ease the situation. By October 2002, both India and Pakistan began to demobilise their troops along the border and by 2003, the two nations signed a cease fire.