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EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, DEC 8: With Pakistan-sponsored infiltration and terrorist attempts on the rise in different parts of India, the government today told Parliament that it will soon table a white paper in Parliament on the activities of Pakistan's Inter-services Intelligence (ISI) in India.
Replying to a host of questions raised by MPs in the Lok Sabha, Home Minister L K Advani said government would come down "very severely" on all attempts to spread terror. Now that the ISI had failed in Punjab, it was spreading its activities to different parts of the country.
When members brought up the issue of harassment of residents in the border states, the Home Minister said a distinction would be made against illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries who came in search of a livelihood, and against those who were being sent in to create havoc.
Advani told MPs that there is a general feeling that the existing laws were not very effective in checking illegal immigration. To counter the inadequacies, the laws werebeing tightened and identity cards would have to be issued to all citizens and non-citizens. Questioned about reports that Saudi billionaire Osama bin-laden had visited Hyderabad, the Home Minister said some reports had appeared in the media, but there was no other information.
Congress leader Rajesh Pilot wanted to know whether the hurdles in the sharing of information between the state and the centre on infiltration and terrorist-related activities had been removed.
Advani said a close watch was being kept on the likely routes used by the ISI in entering the country and their methods of inducting and training people. The sharing of information between state government and security agencies was aimed at devising strategies to counter ISI activities, he said.
Senior Congress MP, Motilal Vora drew the House's attention to the reported move by the Pakistan Army to instigate militants in Jammu and Kashmir to create a Taliban-like force. Raising the issue during "zero houra, Vora said the Pakistanarmy was considering creating "special border teams" of militants to commit acts of sabotage, specifically in Uri and Jammu areas.
In a written reply to a similar question, Advani said the government favoured a comprehensive multi-pronged strategy to counter Pak-sponsored militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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