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So when Pakistan alleged a RAW hand in the Lahore attack, there was disbelief. RAW simply doesn’t have the capability to carry out such an attack in Pakistan—or Afghanistan, for that matter.
In fact, after Mumbai 26/11, Indian intelligence had looked at covert options. Outlook has learnt from reliable sources that national security advisor M.K. Narayanan shot down all such proposals. "We were told India is a democracy and we wouldn’t be indulging in such acts," a retired senior intelligence official said.
RAW now neither has the tactical base nor the approval to conduct operations in Pakistan. "Pakistan can depend on disgruntled youth in India or Pakistan for such attacks. We have no one like that," another intelligence official said. So sleuths have in fact been seeking approval for developing capabilities for direct covert action, especially since the 2006 train blasts in Mumbai.
But the strongest argument against the alleged "Indian hand", a senior security official says, is that, "after 26/11, would we be so stupid to send across men with weapons"? The blame game continues, but chances are that Pakistan will be doing a quick rethink as the investigations progress.
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