Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata on Pak ultras’ radar

Ignoring its commitment made in the Sharm El-Sheikh joint statement on not permitting its territory to be used to foment terrorism in India, Pakistan has stepped up activity in facilitating infiltration, particularly to strike on or around August 15.

Highly-placed home ministry sources said there are specific inputs suggesting that Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata were on the radar of Pakistan-trained terrorists. “It is a matter of serious concern,” the sources said, confirming that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives were targeting the cities and some other places to create trouble during the coming festive season.

The threat comes after reports of increased infiltration from across the border.
There were six attempts on the line of control in Jammu & Kashmir on Wednesday alone.

In the Jammu sector, security forces unearthed a 500-metre tunnel being dug by terrorists to enter India.

It proved Pakistani complicity in permitting its territory to be used for anti-India activities, the sources said.

“There was a significant increase in infiltration during the past seven months. Some infiltrators escaped death and may have sneaked in,” the sources said. The fact that the terrorists made infiltration attempts even during winter in 2008-09 alarmed Indian security agencies.

“The infiltrators were equipped with hi-tech winter gear normally used by Indian and Pakistani troops on Siachen duty, and had the most modern communication equipment,” an intelligence officer based in Kashmir said.