India says more terror attacks being planned in Pakistan (2nd Roundup)

Aug 17, 2009, 16:13 GMT

New Delhi/Islamabad - The Indian government has information that terrorist groups in Pakistan are planning fresh attacks on Indian soil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Monday.

Speaking at a conference of chief ministers in the Indian capital, Singh said there had been a surge in infiltration attempts by militants across the border with Pakistan.

'Cross-border terrorism remains the most pervasive threat,' Singh said at the meeting to discuss internal security. 'There is credible information of ongoing plans by terrorist groups in Pakistan to carry out fresh attacks.'

He said the area of operation of the terrorists extended far beyond the confines of Jammu and Kashmir and covered all parts of India.

'We have put in place additional measures after the Mumbai terrorist attack in November last year. But there is need for continued vigilance,' the prime minister said.

India has accused Pakistan-based Islamic militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba of planning and executing the November terrorist attack in India's financial capital that killed more than 160 people.

In a strong reaction, Pakistan summoned the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad to tell him that Singh's remarked warranted 'serious and prompt attention.'

'We would request India to share information that they have and for our part we stand ready to cooperate fully in pre-empting any act of terror,' said a statement from the country's Foreign Office.

'Terrorism can only be combated by serious, sustained and pragmatic cooperation,' The statement said further. 'We wish to renew our offer of cooperation to India in this regard.'

Singh also noted disturbing trends in Jammu and Kashmir with levels of infiltration across the border from Pakistan increasing.

'The infiltrators appear more battle-hardened, better equipped, and in possession of sophisticated communications,' he said.

Federal Home Minister P Chidambaram listed terrorism, insurgency in the north-eastern region and left-wing extremism as the three big security challenges facing India.

The day-long chief ministers' conference would assess levels of preparedness to meet terrorism and other security threats, and review implementation of decisions taken so far.