Hours before Nawaz Sharif was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Wednesday, India made it clear that state actors in the neighbouring country were responsible for sheltering and proving training to terror modules on its soil to carry out terror strikes. Speaking at the Chief Ministers’ conference here on Wednesday, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde claimed that Pakistani intelligence agency ISI is launching new cells in Punjab and forcing Sikh militants to launch terror attacks.
This fresh revelation came at a time when PM Manmohan Singh is exhibiting warmth towards Pakistan’s new establishment hoping it will launch a crackdown on terror camps sponsored by ISI. However, Shinde cautioned saying that the ISI terror factory is still functional.
“Sikh militant commanders based in Pakistan are under pressure from ISI to further its plans not only in Punjab but also in other regions. Sikh youth are being trained in ISI facilities in Pakistan. We live in a troubled neighbourhood and forces inimical to us are working to hit at the roots of our polity,” Shinde said. Revealing the modus operandi of ISI and Pak-based Sikh terror groups, he said they are using jailed cadre, unemployed youth, and criminals to launch attacks on Indian soil. He said Sikh youth settled in Europe and US are being motivated for terror activities. A huge quantity of arms and explosives has managed to find its way into Punjab through the border.