Al-Qaeda fighters during closing ceremony of training course, near Damascus. Photo: Reuters Al-Qaeda fighters during closing ceremony of training course, near Damascus. Photo: Reuters

National Security Guard (NSG) Director General J N Choudhury has warned of a joint plan by al Qaeda and ISIS to target Indian cities. Choudhury said "it is more than a possibility" now that these terror groups may find "allies" in similar organisations like Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Indian Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba which already have a presence and activity in India.

"Now that they (international terror outfits like al-Qaeda) have declared their intention of attacking India, they will obviously align with known groups that we have (active in the country). Whether it is Laskhar (Lashkar-e-Toiba), Jaish (Jaish-e-Mohammad), Harkat (Harkat-ul-Mujahideen) or IM (Indian Mujahideen).

"So the apprehension we have is that if they do have a combined kind of strategy or combined operations, we have to prepared and be alert if a combined (terrorist) group takes action. Then there is a threat and possibility of a multi-city multiple attack. That is what we are preparing for and hence we are also working with anti-terroriost forces and state police forces (in this context)," the National Security Guard DG told reporters here.

He was speaking on the occasion of the 30th Raising Day of the force that was set up in 1984 for special combat tasks.

Choudhury said he remembers from his earlier stint in the Intelligence Bureau that al-Qaeda operatives had done a "reconnisance of Goa, Bangalore and Amritsar" about a decade ago.

"This (recce of vulnerable spots in India) is not a new thing for al-Qaeda," the NSG chief said adding they looked at Goa as it was visited by a number of foreign and domestic tourists.

The DG said while the NSG does not have an "independent intelligence setup" to corroborate these emerging security developments in the country and across the globe, these possibilities have been "given to understand" to them by snoop agencies working in this domain.

Calling the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks as just a "curtain raiser", the DG who heads the elite federal counter-terror and counter-hijack force said that these latest developments are "more than a possibility now."

"Terrorism has become even more deadly even if I may say so. Our apprehension is what happened in Mumbai during 26/11, it was just a curtain raiser. That's why our effort is to make sure that we try to anticipate and try to prepare for any contingency," he said.

He, however, asserted that he can assure the country that the NSG is "prepared" to effectively counter any such scenario.

Choudhury said the commando force is also looking to train its men in countering 'fidayeen' attacks which could be launched with the help of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

He said apart from bettering the NSG commandos with a host of new gadgets, weapons, equipments and training being given to them, they are also taking up a new module to prepare the 'black cats' in undertaking operations in the indland waterways, the jungle theatre and chemical and biological warfare and a five year plan has been prepared in this regard.

"Any situation on the high seas is being taken care of by the Navy," he said.

He said the government has recently increased the strength of the commandos at the four NSG hubs in Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai and plans are afoot to create additional infrastructure and training facilities for the personnel at these locations.

The DG said the force will "try to increase" the number of women commandos in NSG, whose present strength is less than 20 at present, as also desired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh who was the chief guest of the events held here today.

Choudhury said starting next month the force will train a number of special anti-terror units of state police forces in this garrison as they are the first responders in cases of terror attacks.

He said they also have plans to extend the deputation of some expert officers in the force so that they can stay for a longer time and share their domain knowledge with an increasing number of commandos who come to NSG on a time-bound posting from their parent cadre in the Army of paramilitary forces.

He said they have requested the Home Ministry to fast track the procurement of special gadgets and equipments for them.

During the event, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the officers and soldiers of the force that they should know that when the enemy is "cunning" there is no restriction in using force against them.

He said India's positive image across the globe and its progress is breeding jealousy in some elements which are acting as obstacles for its development and terrorists are one such group.

He equated NSG commandos with the mythological character of 'Abhimanyu' who can break any maze to neutralise the enemy. (With inputs from PTI)

