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| India alarmed by arrest of two in Pak with links to Headley and Rana | | | Agencies
New Delhi Nov 06
The arrest of two persons in Pakistan in connection with Lashkar-e-Taiyabba's plot to target vital Indian installations after the conspiracy with a Pakistani link was exposed in the US has set alarm bells ringing in Delhi. Pakistan has so far not provided any information to India in relation to the conspiracy.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was asked if there was any input on Pakistan's link to the plot to attack the prestigious National Defence College in New Delhi in which the FBI has arrested David Headley, a US national, and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Pakistan-born Canadian citizen and a resident of Chicago at a joint press conference held here with his Swedish counterpart Fredrik Reinfeldt. "To the extent I have information on this Headley affair, I don't think we have received any information from the Pakistani side," said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Union Defence Minister A K Antony also said here today that the terrorist infrastructure is still intact in Pakistan and most of the outfits are based in the vicinity of their army bases, which is a cause for concern for India.
"Almost all the terrorist outfits across the border are intact and unfortunately many of them are in the vicinity of their army bases. It is a (cause for) worry and concern for us," he said when asked about reports suggesting that the Pakistan administration knew about Lashker-e-Taiba's plans to carry out another 26/11-type attack in India.
The Defence Minister was talking to reporters here today on the sidelines of an award function for Defence Public Sector Undertakings and Ordnance Factories.
Asked about reports suggesting the possibility of another 26/11-type attack in India, he said, "everybody knows very well that there is real threat to our security and it is a continuous one. So far, after 26/11 we have been able to prevent it to defeat their attempts. Their (terrorists') attempts are going on but we are also always on guard."
He said unless Pakistan takes "sincere and convincing action" against terrorist groups and disbands them, it would be "very difficult" for India to improve relations with it.
Asked what would be India's reaction if there was another major terror attack, the Defence Minister said, "we will act accordingly at that time... It is a hypothetical question. We are not leaving anything to chance."
On the steps taken to improve the security for the National Defence College, he said, "We know very well that there are forces which are every now and then trying to create problems in India by vitiating internal security through aid and assistance of external agencies. "So we are making all out efforts for not only the NDC but we are taking precautions everywhere," he said.
The NDC was one of the prime targets of LeT militants David Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, arrested in the US by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).
Antony said the security and intelligence agencies were taking precautions in a coordinated manner and doing everything "humanly possible" to strengthen the security apparatus.
Meanwhile, the Union Home Minister, Mr P Chidambaram told reporters in Hyderabad today "There is an obvious Pakistan link. (David Coleman) Headley visited Pakistan a number of times and I think on the advice of the FBI, two or perhaps more people have been arrested in Pakistan,"
Chidambaram said affidavits have been filed by the FBI in connection with the plot in a Chicago court.
On whether the Indian government was informed about the LeT plan, Chidambaram was vague. He said, "If you are asking whether I was informed about it, the answer is yes. If the question is whether you will be informed about it, the answer is no," he quipped.
Details of conversation between Headley and Rana, submitted by prosecutors to the Chicago court, indicate that the LeT was giving priority to its attack on the National Defence College over other targets. The reference to the National Defence College as a target was made by the duo during their conversation on September 7, which was recorded by the FBI.
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