Which is deadlier -- the Al Qaeda or the Lashkar-e-Tayiba? Post 9/11, the Al Qeda was considered to be the most dangerous terrorist organisation in the world. However, today, things have changed and it is official that the Lashkar is the deadliest terrorist organisation in the world.

Indian intelligence agencies told rediff.com that the Lashkar was growing in terms of funds and manpower, and today the Al Qaeda is living of the Lashkar. Intelligence Bureau sources say that the Inter Services Intelligence has played a major role in the growth of the Lashkar ever since the United States of America decided to wage a war against Al Qaeda.

The Lashkar was set up with an intention of fighting Indian forces in Kashmir. Their operations were largely restricted to Kashmir until the ISI instructed them to expand their tentacles and spread terror all over India.

While over the years the terrorist outfit grew in leaps and bounds, it was the 26/11 attacks at Mumbai which propelled them into a different league.

IB sources say that in the past decade, there have been at least 200,000 persons who have been trained by the Lashkar. Al Qaeda does not even have half this number, a clear indication that the Lashkar is way ahead.

In terms of modules, technology, funds and manpower, the Lashkar scores over Al Qaeda. IB sources say that as of today, the Al Qaeda has been pushed to a small corner of Afghanistan, but the Lashkar on the other hand has its modules world over. The alliances that the Lashkar has managed to forge have helped it to grow.

Apart from India and Paksitan, the Lashkar has set up modules in Kenya, Iraq, the Gulf, United States and United Kingdom -- a clear indication that it is all set to launch a global jihad. Al Qaeda, on the other hand, which had modules in all the above-mentioned places, has been pushed into Afghanistan alone. Today Al Qaeda operatives are fighting alongside the Taliban and their war is restricted to Afghanistan alone.

Experts point out that the Lashkar appears to be growing from strength to strength. There are specific instructions from the ISI to the Lashkar that they ought to be waging global jihad, and hence there is a complete change in the manner they have been carrying out their attacks. The future will see more attacks in which the Lashkar would target Westerners, so that they are able to make their point to the rest of the world.

Experts also point out that Al Qaeda was a force to reckon with till it enjoyed the blessings of the ISI. However, the moment America waged a war against this outfit, the ISI dropped the outfit and focused more on the Lashkar.

One of the most trusted cadres of the ISI, Ilyas Kashmiri (Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islami operational chief) who was with the Al Qaeda too fell out with the ISI due to this change in pattern. He was asked to fight alongside the Lashkar in Kashmir, but he refused, stating that his war was against America. However, they have managed to rope him in once again and this has only strengthened the Lashkar.

IB sources say after the Mumbai attacks, the Lashkar have changed their strategy and now prefer Indian-bred jihadis to wage a war within the country.

Zarar Shah, one of the men arrested in connection with the Mumbai attacks in Pakistan, stated during his interrogation that they had 300 targets in mind.

Interestingly, none of these targets are in India. The include targets in the US, UK and other parts of Europe. The arrest of LeT operative David Coleman Headley in US is another indication to show how serious the Lashkar is about waging global jihad.

read more @ Rediff