INDIA yesterday accused the Pakistani secret service of masterminding the July commuter train bombings in Mumbai (Bombay) that killed more than 200 people.

The allegation of Pakistani involvement by the police chief in charge of the investigation could seriously escalate tensions between the nuclear powers, undermining a two-year peace process.

Diplomatic sources in Pakistan last night urged caution on both sides and expressed concern that the allegations had been made public at a time of strong suspicion between the two countries.

The investigation concluded that the Pakistan-based Islamic terrorist group Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) had carried out the bombings, assisted by a banned group, the Students Islamic Movement of India.

Pakistan’s military intelligence agency, the ISI, had planned the operation, the inquiry found.

“We have solved the July 11 bombings case. The whole attack was planned by Pakistan’s ISI and carried out by Lashkar-e-Toiba and their operatives in India,” AN Roy, Mumbai’s police chief, told a packed news conference.

His claims were immediately denied by Pakistan. “India has always chosen a path of pointing fingers at Pakistan without evidence,” said Tariq Azim Khan, minister for information. “If they have evidence, we will investigate.”

The accusation comes at a sensitive time for Pakistan, whose president, Pervez Musharraf, has been at pains to defend the ISI against charges made in a leaked British Ministry of Defence research document last week that it had been backing the Taliban and other terror groups. Last week Musharraf said it was doing an “excellent job” in tracking down militants.

The president, under fire at home for publishing his memoir In the Line of Fire while in office, said yesterday the West would be “brought down to your knees” without Pakistan: “Remember my words, if ISI is not with you and Pakistan is not with you, you will lose in Afghanistan.”

LeT is one of a number of Islamic terror groups fighting for Kashmir’s independence from India. The group has been suspected of having strong links to the ISI in the past, although these are said to have weakened in recent years.

Last night diplomatic sources emphasised that India had previously blamed the ISI for terrorist attacks actually conducted by the LeT.

“If there is hard evidence of ISI involvement, Musharraf would have to take strong action,” said one diplomat. “Heads would have to roll. But if it is the LeT, it’s not at all clear-cut. The relationship has changed, and they have not controlled it for a long time.”

The diplomat added: “We’ve always said to India, give us the evidence and we’ll spank the Pakistanis very hard. If there is hard evidence, it is very frustrating as we have asked them to give us the evidence through back channels so that we can do something about it.”

Indian police revealed that 15 people had been arrested for the bombings, including 11 Pakistanis. They claimed the ISI had begun planning the attacks in March.

The police also detailed how the explosives had been transported into India and packed into pressure cookers before being placed on the trains. At least 207 people died and more than 700 were injured in the bombings.

Last month, Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister, and Musharraf agreed to set up a new body to tackle terrorism and announced a series of measures designed to improve relations.

However, Singh said the body would collapse if Pakistan failed to curb terror groups operating from its territory.

“It is quite obvious to Pakistan that things cannot be business as usual if terrorism is not under control — or if the government of Pakistan is seen not to be willing to work with us to control terrorism,” he said.

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