New Delhi: Defence Minister A K Antony today
said the terrorist infrastructure is still intact in Pakistan
and most of the outfits are based in the vicinity of their
Army bases, which is a cause for concern for India.
"Almost all the terrorist outfits across the border are
intact and unfortunately many of them are in the vicinity of
their Army bases. It is a (cause for) worry and concern for
us," he said when asked about reports suggesting that the
Pakistan administration knew about Lashker-e-Toiba's plans to
carry out another 26/11-type attack in India.
The Defence Minister was talking to reporters on the
sidelines of an award function for Defence Public Sector
Undertakings and Ordnance Factories.
Asked about reports suggesting the possibility of another
26/11-type attack in India, he said, "everybody knows very
well that there is real threat to our security and it is a
continuous one. So far, after 26/11 we have been able to
prevent it to defeat their attempts. Their (terrorists')
attempts are going on but we are also always on guard."
He said unless Pakistan takes "sincere and convincing
action" against terrorist groups and disbands them, it would
be "very difficult" for India to improve relations with it.
Asked what would be India's reaction if there was another
major terror attack, the Defence Minister said, "we will act
accordingly at that time... It is a hypothetical question. We
are not leaving anything for chance."
On the steps taken to improve the security for the
National Defence College, he said, "We know very well that
there are forces which are every now and then trying to create
problems in India in internal security as well as externally.
"So we are making all out efforts for not only the NDC
but we are taking precautions everywhere," he said.
The NDC was one of the prime targets of LeT militants
David Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, arrested in the US by
the FBI.
Antony said the security and intelligence agencies were
taking precautions in a coordinated manner and doing
everything "humanly possible" to strengthen the security
apparatus.
‘Dalai India's honoured guest’
Antony also said Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama was an honoured guest of India but he would not be allowed to indulge in
political activities here.
"The Dalai Lama is an honoured guest of our country but
at the same time he would not be allowed to indulge in
political activities," he said when asked about the Chinese
accusations that the Buddhist leader was spoiling relations
between India and China.
Antony on Japan tour
Antony will be leaving for
a three-day visit to Tokyo tomorrow during which he is
expected to discuss increasing cooperation in anti-piracy
efforts and military training.
This will be the first trip of an Indian Minister to
Japan after a new government took over there in September.
"Under the new government, this is the first visit by
anybody from our government," Antony told reporters here
today.
During the visit, Antony will meet his Japanese
counterpart Toshimi Kitazawa to review the bilateral defence
relations, Defence Ministry officials said.
Issues such as the possibility of increasing coordination
in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, holding joint
exercises between armed forces and exchange of students in the
defence training institutions of both the countries are
expected to figure in the meeting, they added.
Bureau Report