Pak Commandos May Enter Indian Waters, Says Intel, Gujarat Ports On Alert

Ports in Gujarat are on high alert after inputs that Pakistani commandos are likely to infiltrate into Indian waters through the Kutch area and use the sea route to try and incite communal trouble or carry out a terror attack in Gujarat, according to security agencies.

An alert has also been put out by Adani Port and Logistics, which manages the country's largest private port, at Mundra.

According to a statement by Adani Ports and SEZ, "inputs had been received from coast guard station that Pakistani commandos are likely to infiltrate into Indian territory through Kutch area preferably via sea route to create communal disturbance or terrorist attack in Gujarat. All stakeholders are requested to institute preventive measures to militate hostile attacks and assume highest state of readiness and be vigilant towards any attempts to breach our coastal security."

A note dated August 27 (Tuesday) issued at the Deen Dayal Port Trust, earlier known as Kandla Port Trust, asks for the "highest state of readiness and vigilance", the use of maximum possible assets and personnel to plug vulnerable areas, the tracking of suspicious individuals or boats, patrolling along the coast and checking of all vehicles in offices or homes nearby.

The alert comes in the backdrop of tension between India and Pakistan over the government's decisions on Kashmir, including the end of special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, and belligerent statements from Pakistan over the past few weeks.

On Monday, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh had cited intelligence reports to claim that Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed is training members for underwater attacks. "We have received intelligence that the underwater wing of Jaish-e-Mohammed is being trained for attacks. We are keeping track of it and can assure you we are fully prepared to foil any such plan," news agency ANI quoted Admiral Singh as telling reporters in Pune.

NDTV had reported on an intelligence alert to the Navy last year of the possibility of the Jaish using deep sea divers to attack Navy warships. The alert indicated that a group of terrorists were trained in deep sea techniques in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, and could be planning to target strategic assets of the navy.

In 2008, 10 terrorists arrived on a rubber boat on the Mumbai waterfront after crossing the Arabian sea from Karachi in a fishing trawler. In a three-day terror siege of India's financial capital, they killed 166 people.