Front Page

Pakistan link to plot to attack NDC: Chidambaram

HYDERABAD: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Friday said there was a Pakistan link to the terror plot to attack National Defence College (NDC) in New Delhi, which became known after the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Pakistan expatriates David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana in the U.S. last month.

In fact, two or more people were arrested in Pakistan on the FBI’s advice and the link was also pointed out in Headley’s own confession, which was submitted by the federal investigating agency to a Chicago court, Mr. Chidambaram told journalists on the sidelines of a passing-out parade at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy here.

The Minister was responding to a question whether he was aware of Pakistan’s link to the terror plot to attack the NDC which was busted by U.S. He replied in the affirmative but said he was not sure whether the media were aware of it.

Mr. Chidambaram denied the allegation that the government had launched an ‘Operation Greenhunt’ in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and other States to flush out Maoists, and said it was a media creation. Counter-insurgency was dealt with by the State governments and the Centre’s role was limited to providing paramilitary forces, sharing intelligence inputs and giving them technical support.

To a question whether there was any favourable response from the Maoists to his offer on talks, he said, “Ask the Maoists.”

The Minister asked the media not to create an alarming situation, focussing on possible terror attacks ahead of the anniversary of 26/11 attacks. The security forces were capable of thwarting any attack.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu