Aug 17, 2009, 9:36 GMT
New Delhi - The Indian government has information that terrorist groups in Pakistan are planning fresh attacks on Indian soil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Monday.
Speaking at a conference of chief ministers in the Indian capital, Singh said there had been a surge in infiltration attempts by militants across the border with Pakistan.
'Cross-border terrorism remains the most pervasive threat,' Singh said at the meeting to discuss internal security.
'There is credible information of ongoing plans by terrorist groups in Pakistan to carry out fresh attacks,' Singh said.
He said the area of operation of the terrorists extended far beyond the confines of Jammu and Kashmir and covered all parts of India.
'We have put in place additional measures after the Mumbai terrorist attack in November last year. But there is need for continued vigilance,' the prime minister said.
India has accused Pakistan-based Islamic militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba of planning and executing the November terrorist attack in India's financial capital that killed more than 160 people.
Singh also said left-wing extremism posed a serious challenge to India's internal security as Maoist groups have inflicted heavy casualties on government forces in recent months.
Coordination between the federal and state governments, better information sharing and constant vigilance were essential to meet the situation, Singh said.
'The challenges posed by asymmetric warfare and terrorism as also left wing extremism can only be met through new ideas and more resolute actions and determination,' he said. 'We need to be ahead of the curve if we are to succeed, as we must.'
Singh noted disturbing trends in Jammu and Kashmir with levels of infiltration across the border from Pakistan increasing.
'The infiltrators appear more battle-hardened, better equipped, and in possession of sophisticated communications,' he said.
Federal Home Minister P Chidambaram listed terrorism, insurgency in the north-eastern region and left-wing extremism as the three big security challenges facing India.
The day-long chief ministers' conference would assess levels of preparedness to meet terrorism and other security threats, and review implementation of decisions taken so far.
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