Date:28/12/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/12/28/stories/2002122801191200.htm

National

'3,000 Pak.-sponsored terrrorists on Indian soil'

NEW DELHI DEC. 27. There is no let-up in Pakistan's support to anti-India terrorist groups and additional troops are being maintained at all points where the ``enemy is capable of mischief,'' the

Defence Minister, George Fernandes, has said.

He was speaking to PTI while visiting frontier posts of the western sector yesterday to review the de-mining activity. Asked what he meant by ``mischief'', he said ``Kargil was a mischief.''

``One has to be in a position to react to these (mischiefs),'' he said adding ``that's where redeoplyment from the earlier deployment is called for.''

Some of the forward positions on the border with Pakistan would be maintained for strategic reasons even after the completion of troops withdrawal, he said.

Mr. Fernandes said ``the assessment by our Army is that there are about 3000 Pak.-sponsored terrorists on Indian soil and an equal number are waiting to cross over to India.'' He also said terrorists from the northeastern region and Al-Qaeda operatives were harboured in Bangladesh.

``There is information to that effect and evidence to that effect. Bangladesh has been providing shelter to terrorists from the northeastern region. The (banned) ULFA leadership is harboured there.''

Patrolling along the Indo-Bangladesh border has been intensified to check terrorists from sneaking into the country.

The Minister said 80 army personnel have lost their lives in the demining activity. Officials briefing him at the de-mining site said over 2.92 lakh anti-personnel and anti-tank mines were laid in the fields close to the Pakistani border in that sector after last year's December 13 terrorist attack on Parliament.

Out of this, 11 per cent have been recovered or exploded.