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 agency sources says, IM has set up base in West Asia in the last few years, with Saudi Arabia emerging as their preferred destination.
The report quoting counter-terror experts says it is the ISI that is arranging safe havens for the terror operatives in West Asian countries.
Facing increased international scrutiny, Pakistan is now finding it hard to harbour terror masterminds like it used to do earlier. So, its spy agency is helping them relocate to countries like Saudi Arabia.
That allows Pakistan to claim non-culpability even as it continues to control and facilitate their operations.
The report quoted how terrorist Abu Jundal was deported from Saudi Arabia in June.
'Shifting them (the terror operatives) to Saudi Arabia helps the ISI maintain deniability. They carry Pakistani passports so they can easily visit Pakistan for training whenever required,' former IB chief Ajit Doval said.
Being based abroad, however, doesn't hamper the activities of the IM operatives.
The terror masterminds sitting in Saudi Arabia control their foot soldiers in India through the cyberspace, where the intelligence agencies are finding it tough to keep a track on them.
