Jammu:
A top Army commander today said there was a
"possibility" that global terror outfit Islamic State (IS) may join
hands with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba to launch attacks in India.
"Yes, that (IS joining hands with LeT to launch attacks in India) can be
a possibility as the motive of the terrorists is to spread their
propaganda.
"They want their name and for that, they can do anything. And if they
get successful, they can take advantage of it by using any name. Yes it
is a possibility," General Officer Commanding of the 16 corps of the
Army Lt General RR Nimbhorkar told reporters in Jammu today.
He was replying to a question whether IS can join hands with other
terrorists outfits like LeT to launch Paris-type attacks in India.
Lt General RR Nimbhorkar also said there are around 700 active terrorists in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
On a question about the number of terrorist training camps active across
the Line of Control in the PoK, he said that from the inputs that the
captured terrorist Navid has given there are around 37 active camps in
that region.
"See, there are a number of launching pads and we are all aware of it as
it is in the open domain. So, therefore, I will not exactly say as to
how many are there," he said.
The army commander said, "There are sufficient number of launching pads
and if you calculate that way... take the statement which is given by
terrorist captured in Udhampur attack so you can easily co-relate what
he said and calculate.
"So to my mind in the entire PoK there may be about 600-700 terrorists."
He said that out of the 700 terrorists present in the PoK, half of them
are ready and waiting for a chance to infiltrate into the Indian side.
"Out of them, half are ready to be launched so they can come in the launch pad and get launched," he said.
The army commander said Navid had revealed that 35-37 terrorist camps were active in the PoK region.
"35 to 37 camps are there and if in every camp there are 20-30
(terrorists), then the total figure reaches to 600-700 and out of them
half are ready to be launched," he said.
Lt General RR Nimbhorkar said the terrorists were looking for ways and means to infiltrate.
"We cannot say this with certainty whether the number has increased or
decreased. In my opinion, it is their job to find ways and means to
infiltrate and whenever they get a chance they do it and our job is to
stop them and if one of them slips in and our job is to clear them. It
is an ongoing game which keeps on going," he said.
Replying to a question about radicalisation of Kashmiri youth and their
attraction towards IS ideology, he said that if any organisation wants
to grow then it is bound to recruit people into its folds.
"See, right now, these are speculation and we cannot say anything about
it. If any organisation wants to grow, they will definitely go for
recruitment, it is their job and it is to be seen in how much area they
get success. It depends on their propaganda," he added.
He said, "I cannot say this with any degree of certainty if they are
present or not. IS flags which are being raised we have seen these are
scattered incidents, in Srinagar we cannot say with certainty about
their influence having increased."
He said that the need of the hour was to remain alert and be ready to face any eventuality.
"Right now, we have to do detailed analysis but at the end it is our job
that we have to be ready all the time. We have to remain alert.
Whatever the name be, be it the IS, the LeT, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen etc if
they attack the final result would be the same. We have to guard against
that final result and I want to assure you that we are always ready,"
he said.
On the question about the presence of IS in terrorist training camps in
the PoK, Lt General Nimbhorkar said that nothing can be said with
certainty about the presence of IS in PoK.
On reports about youth in Kashmir being radicalised by the use of
Internet and that IS was trying to spread its ideology in the Valley
through social media, the officer said that it has become a global
problem.
"See management of the Internet is a worldwide problem. It is a power
that can be used by anyone, who is not empowered by other means. They
can use this media to their advantage. So how to fight it, is a
different issue altogether and that has to be dealt and looked into its
perspective," he said.
"This stance of yours that the IS is using the (social) media is correct
and I have read it on the net that they are using it to their
advantage. But I am quite certain people at the helm of affairs are
aware of this and they will take necessary measures to counter it in a
manner which is legal and firm," he said.
On another question about the threat of IS penetrating into the Kashmir
Valley, he said, "I feel that and I have said it that IS is a worldwide
problem and people are aware of this issue.
"As far as our area is concerned, whether it is IS whether it is LeT,
they all are inimical to us and we have to be guarding against this. Our
basic philosophy of not allowing them to intrude or infiltrate and we
are geared up for the same. And so therefore any action on their part we
are ready to counter them," he said.
He said that if terrorists would get a chance they would try to target
the civilian areas as they have done in the past, but the methodology
adopted by the army was helping prevent such attempts.
On the issue of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Lt General Nimbhorkar
said that the top brass of the force was aware of the issue and it was
being discussed at the highest level in the government.
"They are aware about the issue of AFSPA and they will take up appropriate decision on it," he said.
