'Infiltration has gone up in J&K post 26/11'

Though there has been a decline in violence in Jammu and Kashmir since 1995, infiltration in the troubled state has gone up after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the state Director General (Prisons) Ashok Bhan said on Monday.

Bhan said there was a noticeable trend that whenever there was a decline in Pakistan-sponsored terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir, there was a spurt in terror attacks in other parts of the country.

"Since 1995 onwards, there has been a decline in violence in Jammu and Kashmir but a spurt in attacks in other states," Bhan said at a seminar on 'Preparedness to fight Terrorism' in Mumbai.

Bhan said post 26/11, infiltration in Kashmir had picked up and a lot of preparation was going on for setting up 'sleeper cells' with the support of Pakistan.

"Creating terror and instability in India is Pakistan's state policy and its soil will continue to be used to promote terrorist activities in India," he said, adding that while Kashmir was the prime target till the 1990s, terror infrastructure had been diverted to other cities.

"We (India) cannot depend on the US or any other country to silence Pakistan," he said, pointing out the need for resolution of outstanding issues with the neighbouring country and strengthening of India's security infrastructure.

Bhan suggested setting up of a special anti-terror taskforce in states on the lines of the Joint Terrorism Taskforce in the US.

"State-level counter-terror taskforces should be formed on the lines of the Joint Terrorism Task Force in the US. The central government should contribute financially in the setting up of these forces and should also develop a model anti-terrorist group," he said.

The officer said the preparedness to fight terrorism should not be influenced by the 'nature, direction and progress' of negotiations with Pakistan.