The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has asked the premier external Intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Directorate-General of Military Intelligence (DGMI) to submit a detailed list of terrorist groups operating from the country and fugitive Indian terrorists finding sanctuary in neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Nepal.
The PMO has asked for measures that can be taken to limit the influence of terror groups and possible action to bring back wanted terrorists like Dawood Ibrahim and other operatives of the banned Indian Mujahideen (IM) to face justice here. The RAW and DGMI were tasked last week by the PMO to do this and they have been asked to furnish their plans within a fortnight, Intelligence insiders said. The Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which did not have any actionable plan against the fugitives, have been left out of the sensitive task.
“The operations wing of the IB under Director Syed Asif Ibrahim hasn’t been impressive in terms of achieving results. This could have been the reason for the agency being left out,” sources said. The reports to be submitted by the Intelligence agencies to the PMO will include details like strength and weaknesses of the terror groups, key players in the terror networks, the extent of State support provided to them by foreign countries, modes of funding and executable plans to choke funding and cripple the subversive capabilities of such groups and their leaders, the sources said.
The agencies are also expected to provide the blueprint of proposed counter measures in different scenarios against the terror infrastructure inimical to the country. The action plan will include details on Dawood’s network in the country, his contacts in certain political parties and bureaucracy, the sources said.
Pakistan is known to be a major hub of anti-India terror groups and its notorious spy agency the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) provides support and gives safe haven to at least 50 top-rung terrorists wanted by the security agencies here. In the last few years, the ISI has also created third country bases for hiding terror operatives and for movement of terrorist hardware.
The ISI has a significant presence in Nepal and a number of top notch IM terrorists including Yasin Bhatkal and Tehsin Akhtar have been nabbed along the Indo-Nepal border in recent years. Nepalese territory is also used by Pakistan for movement of fake Indian currency notes and the proceeds are suspected to be used to fund subversive activities against India. Two top IM commanders including Abdus Subhan Qureshi alias Tauqeer are suspected to be holed up in Nepal, sources said.
Dawood is wanted in a number of terror cases including the 1991 Mumbai serial blasts case. He has diversified his illegal business into sand mining in coastal States, investments in infotainment sector and illegal betting in sports among others. He is also suspected to have a hand in manipulation of certain stocks in the exchange markets. Tauqeer is a key operations man of IM and is wanted in a number of terror incidents in which the outfit had a role.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is learnt to have raised the issue of handing over of Dawood Ibrahim during his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, who visited India in May for the swearing-in ceremony of the NDA Government.