Saudi Arabia is now base camp of Indian Mujahideen and ISI handlers : report
New Delhi, Oct 14: Saudi Arabia has emerged as the new launchpad for Indian Mujahideen terrorists and their Pakistani spy agency ISI handlers, says a report in a Delhi tabloid Mail Today.The report quoting intelligence
'It's a big headache for the intelligence agencies to detect the communications between them. It is impossible to monitor all the activities in the cyberspace,' a senior Intelligence Bureau (IB) official said.
The task is made difficult not only by the vast domain of internet and the anonymity that it provides.
Counter-terror experts say lack of requisite expertise in cyber security is also a concern.
Commodore (retd) C Uday Bhaskar, former director of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), said monitoring of cyberspace was a weak area for Indian security agencies.
'Cyberspace is a challenge and we need the technology and cyber experts. At present, there are far too many gaps as far as the technology aspect of intelligence gathering is concerned,' he said.
The three suspected IM men, arrested on Thursday by the Delhi Police for their alleged involvement in the August 1 Pune serial blasts, had also travelled to Saudi Arabia on a number of occasions and remained in touch with their handlers online.
'They exchanged e-mails and were in touch with them through social media platforms,' the IB official said. The trio - Asad Khan, Imran Khan and Sayed Feroze - met Fayaz Qagzi, a close associate of Abu Jundal, there.
Sources say Qagzi introduced them to top IM operatives Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal, who instructed them to carry out terror strikes in India.
The Bhatkal brothers have been operating from Saudi Arabia for some time now, after shifting base there from Pakistan.
Jundal, a Lashkar-e- Tayyeba operative who played an active role in plotting the 26/11 attack, moved to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan in 2010, looking for potential recruits.
He was given the responsibility to recruit youths and take care of the India operations.
'He was deported to India in June and handed over to the Delhi Police. But intelligence sources said many others were still in Saudi, which was established during Jundal's interrogation.
'One of the suspects is Mohammed Fasih whose deportation is stuck due to diplomatic hurdles. There are others who have been identified but for some reason, we are unable to pursue their cases,' an intelligence official said.
Jundal's interrogation revealed that he was given the responsibility of 'talent-spotting'in Saudi Arabia.
'He was active on the internet, attempting to recruit cadres from India for LeT using several platforms such as Islamic chat and multiple Facebook profiles etc.,' his interrogation report stated.
IM has links with Hizbut Tahrir, a Palestinian radical outfit founded in 1953, which is engaged in attempts to radicalise disgruntled youths in India.
IB sources said in the past two years, some credible evidence has emerged on the group trying to establish its foothold in India.
The IM's funding is also being done from Europe and West Asia, a region where Hizbut Tahrir has a strong presence.
'Unlike in the past, radicilisation is being done on social media and chat forums. The youth are being indoctrinated in the cyberspace and a lot of instigating literature is being floated on these forums,' said an intelligence official.
The task is made difficult not only by the vast domain of internet and the anonymity that it provides.
Counter-terror experts say lack of requisite expertise in cyber security is also a concern.
Commodore (retd) C Uday Bhaskar, former director of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), said monitoring of cyberspace was a weak area for Indian security agencies.
'Cyberspace is a challenge and we need the technology and cyber experts. At present, there are far too many gaps as far as the technology aspect of intelligence gathering is concerned,' he said.
The three suspected IM men, arrested on Thursday by the Delhi Police for their alleged involvement in the August 1 Pune serial blasts, had also travelled to Saudi Arabia on a number of occasions and remained in touch with their handlers online.
'They exchanged e-mails and were in touch with them through social media platforms,' the IB official said. The trio - Asad Khan, Imran Khan and Sayed Feroze - met Fayaz Qagzi, a close associate of Abu Jundal, there.
Sources say Qagzi introduced them to top IM operatives Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal, who instructed them to carry out terror strikes in India.
The Bhatkal brothers have been operating from Saudi Arabia for some time now, after shifting base there from Pakistan.
Jundal, a Lashkar-e- Tayyeba operative who played an active role in plotting the 26/11 attack, moved to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan in 2010, looking for potential recruits.
He was given the responsibility to recruit youths and take care of the India operations.
'He was deported to India in June and handed over to the Delhi Police. But intelligence sources said many others were still in Saudi, which was established during Jundal's interrogation.
'One of the suspects is Mohammed Fasih whose deportation is stuck due to diplomatic hurdles. There are others who have been identified but for some reason, we are unable to pursue their cases,' an intelligence official said.
Jundal's interrogation revealed that he was given the responsibility of 'talent-spotting'in Saudi Arabia.
'He was active on the internet, attempting to recruit cadres from India for LeT using several platforms such as Islamic chat and multiple Facebook profiles etc.,' his interrogation report stated.
IM has links with Hizbut Tahrir, a Palestinian radical outfit founded in 1953, which is engaged in attempts to radicalise disgruntled youths in India.
IB sources said in the past two years, some credible evidence has emerged on the group trying to establish its foothold in India.
The IM's funding is also being done from Europe and West Asia, a region where Hizbut Tahrir has a strong presence.
'Unlike in the past, radicilisation is being done on social media and chat forums. The youth are being indoctrinated in the cyberspace and a lot of instigating literature is being floated on these forums,' said an intelligence official.