No decline in Pak support to terrorists: Army chief

There has been 'no decline' in support from Pakistan to terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir and top militant leaders including Hafiz Saeed are operating with impunity from its territory despite international pressure after Mumbai terror attacks, Army Chief Deepak Kapoor has said.

Pointing to Inter Services Intelligence and Pakistan army officials aiding terrorist camps and the functioning of top militant leaders including Lashkar-e-Tayiba chief Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen's Syed Salahuddin from Pakistani soil, General Kapoor said the terrorists 'are probably more emboldened.'

"The comparison of pre and post 26/11 period reveals that there is no decline or change in the quantum of Pak support to terrorists' operations in J&K. To the contrary, the terrorists are probably more emboldened by the sustained support enjoyed by them despite international pressure on Pak, post 26/11," he said.

"The support to terrorism from across the border continues even today. The terrorist infrastructure and training camps do exist. These trained terrorists thereafter infiltrate into Indian borders to perpetrate violence."

The assistance is provided for infiltration, incursions, recce, coordination and logistics or intelligence support through establishing launch pads existing along the LoC, Kapoor said in an interview to recently published Manas Defence Yearbook.

"In recent times, Syed Salahuddin accompanied by Pak Army and ISI officials visits launch pads all along the LoC. At the behest of Pak, he is also exhorting his cadres to step up violence in J&K," Kapoor said.

Approximately 250-300 terrorists are poised for infiltration across the LoC, Kapoor said. "Institutional support is evident in equipping the terrorists with latest communication system organisations like Thuraya satellite phones, mobile phones and SIM cards. The terrorist organisations are also being funded through various Hawala channels and FICN (fake currency)," Kapoor said.

He said although Pakistan has always projected terrorist activities in J&K as an indigenous movement, the top leadership of various terrorist 'tanzeems' (groups) including Hafiz Saeed and Syed Salahuddin are operating with impunity from Pak territory.