Indian government says Pak-based terror groups continue to train cadres to infiltrate by sea

India has said that Pakistan-based terror groups are training in a bid to infiltrate by sea or waterways. In a written reply to the Parliament, Minister of State in Home Ministry, Hansraj Ahir said, "available inputs indicate that Pakistan-based terror groups continue to train their cadres for underwater strike capabilities in a bid to infiltrate India by sea/waterways."

According to the minister, Pakistan-based terror organizations have exhorted cadres for "samundari jihad" against India, though the minister said there is no specific input about any terror group planning a 26/11-type attack in the port, cargo and oil tankers in the high seas.

The development comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first interview of 2019, said New Delhi is open to dialogue with Islamabad but "amid the noise of bombs and guns, the dialogue cannot be heard. Cross-border terrorism must end."

India, last year, marked the 10th anniversary of the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. New Delhi had then called on the "Government of Pakistan to give up double standards and to expeditiously bring the perpetrators of the horrific attack to justice.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan hasn't shown interest in resolving the matter, however, in an interview to Washington Post Khan noted, “We also want something done about the bombers of Mumbai. I have asked our government to find out the status of the case. Resolving that case is in our interest because it was an act of terrorism.".

India, on its part, is not taking any chances. A large-scale, pan-India, coastal defence exercise 'Sea Vigil' is being scheduled during the Indian Navy's biennial theatre-level operational readiness exercise TROPEX-19 this month.

A coastal security ring, all along the Indian coast, is provided by the Marine Police, the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy. The government is implementing the Coastal Security Scheme in phases since 2005 to augment the capacity and infrastructure of police forces of coastal states and Union Territories.

The National Committee on Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security (NCSMCS) monitors the progress with respect to coastal security initiatives and ensures deciding on measures to plug the gaps in case any shortfall is encountered.