India secondary,LeT has declared 8216;jehad8217; on America: US commander

Blaming LeT for carrying out attacks on US forces in Afghanistan,Admiral Robert Willard,Chief of the US forces in the Pacific,told lawmakers that America had evidence of the group8217;s presence in Europe,the broader Asia Pacific and even in the past in Canada and here,the CNN reported.

LeT was cultivated by Pakistan8217;s security establishment two decades ago to wage a guerrilla war to wear down Indian security forces in Kashmir,the US media report said.

At a Senate hearing,Admiral Willard said 8220;the discussion regarding the government of Pakistan8217;s relationship to LeT is a very sensitive one8221;.

His comments come at a time when US is sharply focussing on the group particularly since the arrest of Pakistani American David Headley in 2009.

According to Headley8217;s statement to US authorities,he had joined LeT to fight in Kashmir but ended up scouting targets for the Mumbai attackers.

Last week,the White House in a report to Congress warned that despite unprecedented efforts by Pakistan to go after the militants within the country,it lacked 8220;a clear path8221; to defeat them.

Admiral Willard told lawmakers that the US was working actively with South Asian governments including India,Nepal,Bangladesh,to help build their capacities to contain LeT.