Former National Security Adviser M. K. Narayanan at a function organised by the National Investigation Agency ( NIA) here on Monday said that the Taliban could target India if the group is successful in capturing power in war- torn Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s strategy of supporting Jihadist elements to keep India off balance was a worrying trend, said the former police officer, who also served as the Chief of Intelligence Bureau.
While addressing the first Radha Vinod Raju Memorial Lecture organised on the occasion of National Investigation Agency Day, he says that,“ Surrender to extremist forces like Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s willingness to hold unconditional talks with the Taliban have the gravest consequences for us.”Late R. V. Raju was the first director general of NIA, which was set up in the aftermath of Mumbai terror attack in 2008.
“ Taliban intolerance in both the countries shows no signs of muting itself… the basic feebleness in the administration there and presence of various terror groups, including Taliban, let d them to do what they like. If they succeed in Afghanistan, India is their next target.
We need to be on our guard,” he said.
The former NSA said Pakistan’s newly revealed Army doctrine even specify lopsided responses in future wars with India — implying a willingness to take recourse to the nuclear option in the event of India taking any counter measures against terror attacks like the Mumbai attack. “We, hence, have to be prepared for more attacks of this kind,” he said.
He said terror outfits put the accent on technology acquisition and have found ways to fabricate more sophisticated triggering devices and extend at which explosives could be ignited.
He ,however also states that,“ Some among them are also betrothed in search for acquiring a nuclear device. There are quite a few living proof in India itself of terror outfits like the Indian Mujahideen ( IM) benefiting from the ‘ revolutionary philanthropy’ of the larger terrorist organisations.”
Most important among a dozen or more LeT controlled networks across India is the IM which consists mainly of dis-affected Muslim youth, persuade to come to Karachi and then sent for training to the Pak- Afghan border or Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Narayanan said.
The former cop also said that several new terror outfits are experimenting with so far unfamiliar methods and techniques and some of those which have emerged rival the al- Qaeda and Lashkar- e- Tayyeba in their capacity to give a free rein to violence.
Home Minister Sushil kumar Shinde, speaking at the event said terrorists and extremists seek to attack the democratic and secular fabric of the country and they would continue to try to keep everyone on tenterhooks.