Terror groups continue to enjoy much latitude in Pak: Deputy NSA

He also said the limitations imposed on these terror groups by Pakistan also evaporated few years ago.

Nehchal Sandhu at a BSF event on Thursday. (Source: Express photo by Amit Mehra)

Deputy National Security Adviser Nehchal Sandhu said Thursday that “an array of terrorist groups who have carried out operations in several states of India continued to enjoy much latitude in Pakistan and a section of the state apparatus continued to extend support to these groups”. He also said the limitations imposed on these terror groups by Pakistan also evaporated few years ago.

Nehchal said “conflict entrepreneurs” in Pakistan are working hard to create an atmosphere of “animosity” against India. Recent investigations show the India-Bangladesh border has been exploited by terrorists for clandestine movements of their colleagues and hardware, he added. The speech, at an event organised by the Border Security Force (BSF), assumes significance ahead of Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony where Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also been invited.

The Deputy NSA said that in the coming days it is expected that “launching pads” along the Pakistan border will be “re-activated and determined attempts will be made for infiltration”.

“Even though there has been an orderly transition in mid-2013 from one democratically elected government to another, conflict entrepreneurs in Pakistan continue to entrench an atmosphere of animosity against the Indian state,” Sandhu said.
Sandhu, also the former chief of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), said, “The Pakistan council — which includes Jamaat-ud-Dawa, a front for the Lashkar-e-Toiba — 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.”

“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,” he said.

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