NEW DELHI: A suspected Pakistani boat claimed by India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to be on a terror mission exploded in the Arabian Sea on New Year’s eve following a chase, but the Indian Express reported on Friday that the vessel seemed to be on a routine smuggling trip when it was intercepted.

“Less than 48 hours after the Coast Guard destroyed a boat it claimed was ferrying explosives and terrorists from Pakistan into Indian waters, new evidence has begun to emerge that the victims of the operation might have been small-time liquor and diesel smugglers, ferrying bootleg cargo from the port of Gwadar to other fishing boats which were to have carried it into Karachi’s Keti Bandar harbour,” the Express said, quoting unnamed sources.

It said there was also a suggestion of use of disproportionate force since the fishing boat did not have an engine capable of outrunning Indian interceptors.

Islamabad says it’s unclear whether incident has happened at all

(According to an agency report, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said it was unclear whether the incident had happened at all). It was not possible to independently verify the Indian account.

In a press release, the Indian Ministry of Defence said that “as per the intelligence inputs received on 31st December, a fishing boat from Keti Bunder near Karachi was planning some illicit transaction in Arabian Sea”.

Take a look: Pakistani boat blows self up after India navy chase: Indian defence ministry

Highly-placed government sources, however, said the intelligence had no link to terrorism, and made no reference to any threat to India, according to the paper.

Instead, the sources told the paper, the National Technical Research Organisation had intercepted mobile phone traffic involving small-time smugglers operating out of the fishing port of Keti Bandar, near Karachi.

The report, the sources said, was issued directly to the Coast Guard and Navy by a mid-level NTRO official in violation of systems, which mandate that any possible threat must be shared with all relevant services, including the Intelligence Bureau, the Research and Analysis Wing, and the Border Security Force.

Accusing Pakistan of repeatedly aiding terror activities in India, however, the BJP on Friday said it reflected “frustration” of the neighbouring country and complimented the armed forces for foiling a bid similar to the 26/11 terror attacks off the Gujarat Coast.

The party also lauded “the alacrity” displayed by the forces in foiling the bid and said it was a result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi giving more powers to them in dealing with terror activities of its own instead of looking up to Delhi.

In a midnight operation in the high seas, a Pakistani fishing boat said to be carrying explosives was intercepted by the Indian Coast Guard off the coast of Gujarat, but the vessel exploded and caught fire before sinking along with four occupants, Press Trust of India said.

“This is yet another attempt by a frustrated Pakistan in aiding terror activities in India, as it has been continuously aiding and exporting terrorism to the world.

“BJP compliments the armed forces for foiling such an attempt as they displayed perfect coordination in tackling terror activities. This also demonstrates Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership of empowering the forces to deal with any such situation on their own,” BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, other Indian reports said Pakistan-based terrorist groups are continuously trying to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir by taking advantage of cross-border firing as they aim to carry out “spectacular attacks” ahead of US President Barack Obama’s Republic Day visit to India, according to security agencies.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday accused Pakistan of trying to push terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir and giving cover to such attempts by continuous firing along the border.

“No doubt about that,” Mr. Singh told reporters in New Delhi when asked whether the repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops were to cover infiltration attempts by militants.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2015

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