Author: Agencies
Publication: The Economic Times
Date: August 13, 2002
Observing that cross border terrorism
from Pakistan has not ended, external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha on
Monday said there was evidence of stepped up violence by Pakistan-backed
terrorist groups in Jammu and Kashmir in the run-up to assembly elections.
"Quite clearly, cross-border terrorism
from Pakistan has not ended," Mr. Sinha told reporters at the Delhi airport
shortly after his arrival here from a three day visit to Afghanistan.
Asked about India's concerns on
infiltration, he said, "There is no change in this. We had our apprehensions
that in the run up to the elections, terrorist groups will step up violence
there. We have seen evidence of that "Mr. Sinha, who held talks with Afghan
interim head Hamid Karzail and other leaders in Kabul and visited Herat,
Mazar-e-Shariff and Kandahar, said Al Qaeda elements were waiting for opportunities
in "certain areas" to regroup.
"Everyone in Afghanistan is aware
of this and determined not to allow this to happen," he said noting that
though these elements had dispersed, they were waiting in area where they
had a stronger base and were calling the shots.
On reports that A1 Qaeda terrorists
were moving into J&K, he said it was pointed out that some of the captured
Taliban millitants had confessed to operating even in J&K.
