Extremist elements are also ‘active’ in India – this was outlined in a recent emergency message by a US advisory cautioning its citizens travelling to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The Washington State Department said in its worldwide caution that terrorists have hit a wide variety of targets and institutions in Bangladesh. It further said that the US government had assessed terrorist groups in South Asia may be planning attacks in the region, possibly against US facilities, citizens and interests. “US citizens should avoid travel to Afghanistan, as no region in the country is immune from violence.”
On Pakistan, the advisory read, “A number of established terrorist organisations, indigenous sectarian groups, and other militants pose a danger to US citizens in Pakistan.”
Pakistan has been struck by a wave of terrorist attacks in recent weeks, killing at least 130 people and leaving hundreds more injured.
Last month, a Sufi temple in Pakistan's Sindh was attacked by terror group ISIS, which claimed the lives of 90 people. Also, seven people were killed and 20 injured in a bomb blast in Lahore. The recent terror attacks also affected the Pakistan Super League cricket tournament which saw many international players, including England's Kevin Pieterson, skipping the final match in Lahore.
At the 19th Asian Security Conference in Delhi organised by the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses yesterday, Mahmud Ali Durrani – Pakistan's former National Security Advisor said that the 26/11 terror strikes in Mumbai was carried out by a Pakistani-based terror organisation and it was a classic case of trans-border terror activity.
