Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA) Nehchal Sandhu on Thursday cautioned that Pakistan-based militants could revive the infiltration bid from across the border to create an atmosphere of animosity against India.
“Even though there has been an orderly transition in mid-2013 from one democratically-elected Government to another, conflict entrepreneurs in Pakistan continue to strive hard to sustain and entrench an atmosphere of animosity against the Indian state,” Sandhu said at an event organised by Border Security Force here.
“As we head into summers, launching pads are likely to be re-activated and determined attempts will be made for infiltration. The burden for thwarting the same will essentially fall upon BSF,” he told the gathering of men and officers of the paramilitary force as he delivered the annual Rustamji Memorial lecture.
Sandhu, a former chief of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), said, “The Pakistan council -- which includes Jamaat-ud-Dawa, a front for the lashkar-e-Taiba -- is one such platform. An array of terrorist groups, which have previously exhibited the ability to carry out operations in several states of India, continue to enjoy much latitude in Pakistan and they remain very active.”
He said restrictions on those terror groups in Pakistan, which conducted the worst terror attack in India in 2008 in Mumbai, “evaporated” a few years ago.
“limitations imposed on their (terror groups’) recruitment schemes, training venues, fund collection mechanisms and infiltration platforms in the immediate aftermath of November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai evaporated a few years ago. Sections of the state apparatus continue to extend support to these groups. Unrestrained outpouring of vituperative propaganda against India has not caused the Pakistan government to impose any restrictions, he said.
Delivering the talk on ‘BSF-The Way Ahead’, Sandhu said border fencing, 4,500 km length of roads and about 100 helipads will have to be created over a period of 10 years to effectively guard this border.