THREAT FROM ISLAMISTS

The Defence Ministry too has sounded alarm bells over the growing involvement of ISI with Islamic fundamentalist groups in fanning trouble in the region. ‘There is no room for complacency in the North-east as the Region has the potential to flare up at a short notice,’ says Kamal Dawa, Director General, Defence Intelligence Agency. The chief of the tri-service intelligence agency said growth of Islamic fundamentalism in the Region coupled with porous nature of the borders pose fresh challenge for security environment in the North-East. Though he asserted that the security situation in the North-East is well under control through effective resources control, sustained counter terrorism operations, the growth of ISI activities in neighbouring Bangladesh is a cause for alarm to him.

Kamal Dawa said presently the ISI was focusing on the issues of generating anti-India sentiment in the neighbouring countries in collusion with fundamentalist organisations in Bangladesh like Jamit-e-Islami. The target is North-East, where they are taking help of the fundamentalist organisations. ‘Increase of Islamic fundamentalism in our neighbouring countries is a concern to our security and should be taken seriously,’ he added. He said security environment in the North-East was better after start of the peace talks with NSCN and signing of the BTC Accord. He claimed that ceasefire agreements with other groups would also hold. Lt General Dawa also confirmed the presence of Al-Qaeda in Bangladesh asserting that its cadres are using the neighbouring country as a transit point to flee to other South East Asian countries.

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