Advani wants to know more about the Indian link

AJAY SURI

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 18: UNION Home Minister L.K. Advani has sought from investigating agencies a detailed report on two Indians nabbed in the United States for their alleged role in the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

‘‘It seems they procured their passports in Bangalore. We are looking into the matter,’’ Advani told The Indian Express today. At the same time, however, senior Home Ministry officials were at pains to point out that one of the arrested persons was married to a Pakistani woman — implying a possible Pakistani connection somewhere.

Secondly, it’s being stressed that the duo — Mohammed Javed Ajmath and Ayub Khan — had left India for good some nine years ago and ‘‘in all likelihood’’ they must have cultivated their own network in the US. The preliminary inquiry so far does not indicate their links with any outfit in India, officials say.

The Ministry of External Affairs has begun a parallel inquiry to look into the authenticity of their passports and will soon be sharing the information with the FBI, sources say.

With both China and Pakistan sealing their borders with Afghanistan, the possibility of Afghan mercenaries sneaking into India through J-K has not escaped the Indian Government’s attention. ‘‘We are aware of the seriousness of the situation and are taking all possible measures,’’ Advani said.

While there is no immediate move to step up security in J-K, a new ruling by the Home Ministry now makes it compulsory for all Afghan nationals here to register themselves with the local authorities. In a related development, the Bureau of Immigration, currently under the Intelligence Bureau (IB), has been brought under the Foreigners Division of the Home Ministry with immediate effect — the idea being to keep an eye on any untoward Afghan activity in the country.

According to North Block’s revised ruling which was announced today, ‘‘all Afghan nationals, possessing valid or expired documents, would now onwards be registered and the cases of those who are not in possession of any documents at all would be considered by a committee constituted in the Home Ministry.’’

Meanwhile, in a Union Cabinet meeting this morning, Advani and Defence Minister Jaswant Singh briefed the members about India’s position in US-Afghanistan tussle and also sought the members’ views on the issue. Many Cabinet ministers have asked the Government to launch a ‘‘diplomatic effort’’ to convey its stand to the world community that the fight against terrorism, rather than being directed against any individual, should be tackled as a global phenomenon.

Apprehending a possible backlash of the US-Afghanistan confrontation, the Cabinet Ministers asked the Government to ensure safety of the country’s nuclear installations and important buildings like power plants and airports.

On the Kashmir situation, which also formed one of the focal points in today’s meeting, the Cabinet members were told that there has been no let up in the troubled Valley, ‘‘either by the militants or by the security forces.’’