Washington
02 June 2008
The uproar over the 2005 publication of Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad may have faded in the West, but analysts believe angry Islamic militants may still be seeking revenge. VOA correspondent Gary Thomas reports.
But Richer says that a recent interview given by CIA director Michael Hayden may also have been a factor in the attack.
"General Hayden made some very strong comments about al-Qaida not necessarily being on the run, but much more tactical in nature, diminished in stature worldwide, particularly in nature of Saudi Arabia and Iraq," he said. "They've got to do something. You know, this may not have been an al-Qaida attack, but it is an attack that draws attention back to the fact that these groups can take action."
The Pakistan government has been carrying on peace talks with Islamic militant groups operating out of the tribal areas. Christine Fair says the attack is not necessarily linked to those peace deals, but a bombing in the center of the capital is still an embarrassment to the government.
"I don't think there's any reason to connect this to those deals at all, because there are so many different militant actors in Pakistan, many of whom have realigned their targeting and their priorities," she said. "But, obviously, it doesn't do well for them to be having an attack on an embassy in Islamabad.
IntelCenter, a private contractor that works with U.S. intelligence agencies, says an al-Qaida-produced videotape released in 2007 rejects the concept of immunity from attack for embassies or consulates.