HVK Archives: Nepal based ISI wing planning blasts in India
Nepal based ISI wing planning blasts in India - The Observer
Sujit Chakraborty
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1\7\96
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Title : Nepal-based ISI wing planning blasts in India
Author : Sujit Chakraborty
Publication : The Observer
Date : 1\7\96
THE Pakistan embassy in Nepal is actively "aiding and
abetting" the Kathmandu-based ISI operators to intensify
terrorist campaign in India. Mentioning this in a recent
confidental note, the home ministry expressed grave
concern over the increasing ISI (Inter Services
Intelligence of the Pakistan army) activities from
Nepalese soil.
The recent arrest of an ISI operator Sarfaraz, a
suspected POK resident, in Kathmandu with huge cache of
arms and RDX explosives has revealed "thick involvement"
of a section of Nepalse authorities, including some
political bigwigs, with ISI operators. The Nepal-based
ISI men are reportedly planning to organise "series of
explosions" in several key areas like defence and
petroleum installations, bust market places and important
bridges besides targetting important individuals in
India.
High-placed sources in the ministry told The Observer of
Business and Politics on sunday that Sarfaraz, a
Pakistani passport holder, was nabbed by the Nepalse
police from Mayalu hotel at Darbar Chowk in Kathmandu, in
the night of June 21-22. Police recovered several
weapons and two drums of chemicals and RDX from him.
Sarfaraz was reportedly occupying five luxurious rooms on
the top floor of the hotel under different names for the
past one year and paying a rent of about Rs. 30,000 per
month. The owner of the hotel, one Joga Singh, a hardcore
supporter of the Khalistan movement, reportedly helped
the ISI operator to get these rooms. Joga Singh had
acquired the Mayalu hotel in early 80's and had
reportedly provided shelter to many Khalistani
terrorists. Currently, he is organising travel documents
for anti-Indian extremists operating from Nepal besides
arranging cocktail parties on behalf of Pakistani
diplomats, the note said.
According to the note, Sarfaraz had been collecting arms
and explosives as per the directives of the ISI bosses to
sell them to some of the selective Nepalse Muslim
inhabitants of Nepalganj, situated on the Indo-Nepalsese
border. A part of the arms were also supplied to Maoist
terrorist groups operating in the Terai belt and also
Rolpa, Dolpo, Gorkha and Syangza areas of Nepal.
Sarfaraz has close contacts with Kashmiri militants,
including Hilal Beg, Shakil Ahmed Butt, Shafaq Ahmed and
Tariq Butt, who have been provided with safe passage and
shelter by the ISI operators based in Nepal. It may be
recalled that Hilal Beg is the main suspect in the Lajpat
Nagar explosion in the Capital. The note mentions that
Sarfaraz has established contacts with some Nepalese
collaborators - Ramzan Tibbeti, Nizaruddin, Washi Ahmed,
Sheikh Miraz and Tariq Ali - to implement the "nefarious
design" of the ISI.
The note points out that Tariq Ali, who is married to
former Nepalese Prime Minister Tulsi Giri's daughter is
closely known to the National Democratic Party MP Mirza
Dilshad Beg. Beg is wanted in some criminal cases in
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and is reported to be involved
with the ISI as also in drug racket.
Soon after the arrest of Sarfaraz, the Pakistan embassy
in Kathmandu swung into action. The embassy first
secretary Tariq Hussain got in touch with some
politicians, administrative personalities, Royal Nepalse
Army officers and even some influential citizens in
Kathmandu to "hush up" the case. Pakistani authorities
feared that revelation of the arrest and the subsequent
interrogation report would bring open the "Pakistan
embassy sponsored anti-Indian activities"from Nepalese
soil.
Sources confirmed that some of the Nepalese politicians,
including Dilshad Beg, Jamin Shah, Mehboob Shah, Dr
Mohammed Mohsin of the National Democratic Party, which
holds the balance of power on account of its 20 seats in
the lower house, have been mounting pressure to release
the ISI agent Sarfaraz.
It is feared that in view of the domestic political
instability, the minority Nepali Congress government may
not able to pursue "meaningful investigations" to the
Sarfaraz case.
The note expressed surprise over the "lack of
sensitivity" on the part of Nepal as the latter want
India to allow "preferential access for Nepalese content"
which presently stands at 50 per cent under the
certificate of origin system.
Nepalese position is viewed as being very similar to that
of the Bangladesh authorities who have "either connived
or overlooked" the anti-India terrorist campaign and the
ISI network. The ISI is directly operating from Dhaka and
Chittagong.
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