HVK Archives: ISI uses Nepali Muslims for anti-India campaign
ISI uses Nepali Muslims for anti-India campaign - The Times of India
Pranava K. Chaudhary
()
22 July 1997
Title: ISI uses Nepali Muslims for anti-India campaign
Author: Pranava K. Chaudhary
Publication: The Times of India
Date: July 22, 1997
Pakistan has been funding the growth and spread of Muslim fundamentalism in
the Terai region of Nepal for which it is actively using Islamic Yuva Sangh
of Nepal (NIYS), according to sources in the intelligence department.
Influential Nepali Muslims are being used by the ISI to provide assistance
to anti-India elements, say the sources.
Sources pointed out that various front organisations of Jamaat-e-Islami,
under the guidance of ISI are spreading their operations to a larger area
on the Indo-Nepal border in Chitwan and Sunsari districts in the cast.
There has been occasional intelligence inputs indicating infiltration of
youths belonging to Nepali Islamic Yuva Sangh in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
under the guise of fomenting communal trouble. An operation code-named
Sanatan has already been undertaken for launching anti-India activities.
Reports of Nepali Muslim youths being trained in jungles of Nepal and
selective youths being sent to Pakistan for training for "subversive"
activities in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, have been received
from time to time. Intelligence department has already sounded the
government to curb the spread of Muslim fundamentalism in the areas
bordering Nepal and to keep constant watch on the activities of
fundamentalist organisations and the growth of Madarasas.
The Indo-Nepal border runs over 16 districts on the Indian side including
six districts of Bihar namely west and east Champaran, Sitamarhi,
Madhubani, Saharsa and Purnia. Most of the 1799-km border runs through
underdeveloped and populous areas where crime rate is generally high and
organised gangs of smugglers of ganja, hasish, opium, gold, silver,
essential commodities and some of the notorious mafia gangs operate almost
with impunity. Ill-equipped police stations in terms of manpower,
communication equipment, vehicular support and weaponry, relative to the
enormity of the problem faced, further compounds the situation, sources
disclosed.
There are 22 land customs stations in the border often undersupervised to
deal with the growing ramifications of smuggling. According to reports,
immigration posts are poorly equipped and undersupervised.
In fact, all these issues related to Indo-Nepal border management were
discussed In a recently held meeting of the chief secretaries and the
director general of police (DGP) of the states bordering Nepal. The meeting
is also learnt to have discussed that Pakistani embassy officials in
Kathmandu have also established close contacts with influential Nepalese
politicians. Pakistani embassy, according to sources, had also been
providing financial assistance to politicians in Nepal. They have also
been exhorting Nepalese Muslims to vote for Muslim candidates in the
elections and carrying out propaganda. Apart from encouraging the
establishment of the Jamaat-e-Islami in Nepal affiliated to the
Jamaat-e-Islami of Pakistan and uniting various Muslim organisations under
the banner of Nepal Muslim Ekta Sangh, Pakistan ISI is spreading its
operation to a larger area, sources disclosed.
Meetings between district officials of border district of India and Nepal
for exchange of information and sorting out problems like trans-border
crime were traditionally held for a very long time. However, after the
meeting of home secretaries at Kathmandu in March, 1995, and subsequent
interactions with the foreign minister and IGP this aspect was emphasised.
Several instructions were issued to the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,
West Bengal and Sikkim to institutionalise regular meeting between district
officials on both sides.
States were requested for creation of rapid research capability in the form
of special task forces which should be equipped with suitable communication
and mobility. Such task force should be based on state armed police and
should take proper inputs from state CID, SIB and other central agencies.
The meeting also suggested to set up task force at the district level
headed by DSP for the purpose of familiarising with the terrain and
intensive patrolling of the critical areas on the border.
Back
Top
|
