Members of Pakistan's security establishment suspect the possible involvement of jehadi elements from Punjab in yesterday's attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team that left six players and a coach injured and eight persons dead.

The attack was a “well thought-out plan orchestrated by the Punjabi militants” who are furious over actions taken by the government in the aftermath of the Mumbai incident, especially the arrest of several leading jehadi leaders who were set to face trial, members of the security establishment were quoted as saying by The News daily.

They believe the attack was aimed at “damaging the credibility of the government for such a grave security failure” and “releasing the rising pressure” on jehadi elements in Pakistan after the Mumbai incident.

Sources in the security establishment also said the jehadis might be thinking that the attack on the Sri Lankan team “would force India to go on the back foot, as had been the case with Islamabad after the Mumbai attacks and the ensuing allegations of a Pakistani hand".

Pakistani authorities have detained six suspects including top Lashker-e-Toiba operatives Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Zarar Shah, Abu al Qama and Hamad Amin Sadiq in connection with the Mumbai attacks. Over 120 LeT and Jamaat-ud-Dawah operatives were detained after the Mumbai incident and scores of JuD offices sealed.

The sources in the security establishment also pointed out the attack in Lahore, carried out by 12 heavily armed terrorists, bore a similarity to the Mumbai attacks.