Manmohan Singh says terror groups in Pakistan planning fresh attacks in India

New Delhi, Aug 17 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Monday said that there is credible information that terrorist groups based in Pakistan are planning to carry out fresh attacks in India and advocated the need for utmost vigilance.

Inaugurating the Chief Ministers' Conference on Internal Security, Dr Singh said, "There is credible information of ongoing plans of terrorist groups in Pakistan to carry out fresh attacks," the Prime Minister said addressing the Conference of Chief Ministers in New Delhi.

He said cross-border terrorism remains a "most pervasive" threat.

"We have put in place additional measures after the last year's Mumbai terror attack. But there is need for continued vigilance. The area of operation of these terrorists today extends far beyond the confines of Jammu and Kashmir and covers all parts of our country," he added.

In dealing with the terrorist challenge, he said, "We need to be prepared for encountering more sophisticated technologies and enhanced capabilities. We also need to guard our sea frontier as vigilantly as our land border."

Calling for a coordinated response by the Centre and the States on issues pertaining to internal security, he said, "We are committed to assist the States in all possible ways in dealing with the challenges of internal security. We will also do our utmost in facilitating inter-State coordination."

Terming the Left Wing extremism as a serious challenge, Dr Singh said, "The problem of Left Wing extremism is indeed a complex one. There is a need for a balanced and nuanced strategy to deal with it. On the one hand, the State should discharge its responsibilities and obligations and re-establish the Rule of Law in areas dominated by the Naxalites. At the same time, we should work towards removing the causes, which lead to alienation of people and problems like Naxalism."

Talking about infiltration, he said, "Levels of infiltration which had come down very substantially have seen a surge this year, alongside an increase in attempts at infiltration. The infiltrators appear more battle-hardened, better equipped, and in possession of sophisticated communications. (ANI)