Pakistan terrorists likely to attack cities on the coast, warns intelligence
Hyderabad: Intelligence inputs gathered on the ground indicate that Pakistan-based terror outfits have plans to carry out attacks on important installations and cities located along the coast after infiltrating their cadre through the sea route. Based on this, the Union home ministry has tightened security along the coastline.
On January 1, Minister of state in the MHA Hansraj Gangaram Ahir informed parliament that “as per available intel, there is no specific input about terrorist groups planning to attack by way of sea route. However, inputs indicate that Pakistan based terrorist groups have plans to carry out attacks on important installations/cities located along the coast. The MHA is working in tandem with the state governments and has adopted a multi-pronged approach to contain cross-border infiltration, which includes strengthening of border management and multi-tiered deployment along the international border and Line of Control and near the ever-changing infiltration routes.”
Some of the measures the government took include construction/maintenance of border fencing, construction of culverts/bridges on nalas, improved technology, weapons and equipments for security forces, improved intelligence and operational coordination, installation of border floodlights and synergising intelligence flow to check infiltration.
However, while the MHA did its best to prevent attacks along the sea routes, intelligence agencies in the valley failed to thwart the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed, who orchestrated the Pulwama attack in which 44 CRPF jawans were killed. This is despite the Army carrying out an in-depth analysis of terrorist incidents and security breaches that are identified with various incidents.
The decision to ferry 2,500 soldiers in a convoy of 80 buses has been questioned. Experts point out that the jawans would have been airlifted after the climate in the valley cleared up.
“On February 8, 2019 there was intel input on possible terror attacks and a high demand to sanitise the area. If the agencies had taken the input seriously and traced the source of terror, the entire planning (including the procurement of 300 kg of explosives), and the squad orchestrating it would be exposed. Why did they not tap the communication, as the report says the terrorists were in contact with the suicide bombers and guiding him about the movement of the convoy,” said Mr Amarsingh, a defence historian.
