During his visit to India, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that “al-Qaeda was using proxy terrorist groups to orchestrate attacks in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan as part of a broader strategy to destabilize the region,” according to a Washington Post report.

“The Pentagon chief said al-Qaeda had formed a ‘syndicate’ of terrorist groups with Taliban factions in Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as Lashkar-i-Taiba, a Kashmir separatist network blamed for the 2008 Mumbai hotel attacks that killed 165 people,” writes the Post’s Craig Whitlock.

"What we see is that the success of any one of these groups leads to new capabilities and a new reputation for all," Gates said, according to the Post. "A victory for one is a victory for all."

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