42 terror training camps in Pakistan, PoK: MHA

Forty-two terrorist training camps are still active across the border and intelligence inputs indicate active support of Pakistan intelligence and security agencies in pushing terrorists into India, MoS for Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Ramachandran said the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan is still intact and there are reports of around 2,500 militants being holed up in various camps there.

“The Indo-Pak border, particularly Jammu region, is highly vulnerable to infiltration from Pakistan side. Pak-based terrorists, with the support of Pakistani rangers and army, often make abortive attempts to sneak into the Indian territory. Reports indicate that there are 42 camps, with about 2,500 militants, functioning across the border, of which 25 are in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and 17 in Pakistan,” he said.  In a written reply,  he  said that there have been a total of 249 infiltration attempts this year as against 247 in 2011. However, the BSF personnel had foiled every infiltration attempt by terrorists.

“The Centre in coordination with the state government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to contain cross-border infiltration including strengthening of border management andconstruction of border fence,” he said. On the question of withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in a phased manner from Jammu and Kashmir, Ramachandran said after the visit of an all-party delegation to J&K in September 2010, and in pursuance of the decision taken by the Centre, the state government has been requested to review notification of the areas as disturbed areas under the AFSPA 1990.