New Delhi, October 9
India today reiterated that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was “behind” the serial blasts in the North-East and said it had asked Bangladesh and Myanmar to take action against militants holed up in those countries.

Asked specifically whether the Pakistani intelligence agency was suspected to be involved in the blasts, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee was categoric, “The ISI is behind that ... they are supporting (militants in the North-East).” Serial blasts in Assam and Nagaland in the past few days have claimed over 60 lives.

Talking to reporters after being conferred an honorary doctorate by Rai University here, the Defence Minister said, “After the action against operational bases of militants in Bhutan, most of them were completely destroyed but quite a few shifted to Bangladesh”.

He said India had taken up the issue of anti-India militants hiding in Bangladesh and Myanmar with the governments there and “asked for their support”.

Incidentally, Home Minister Shivraj Patil had on Thursday stopped short of blaming the Pakistani intelligence agency. He had, however, said: “It does not mean we are giving a clean chit...neither are we complaining.”

Going further on the issue, Mr Mukherjee said Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia had assured the Indian High Commissioner of providing all help in this regard. The Defence Minister was cautious while pointing out that India did not believe in hot pursuit. “Terrorism has crossed all boundaries but we can only request for help as we don’t believe in hot pursuit,” he said.

Mr Mukherjee said the Centre would continue to support the north-eastern states with defence forces until their own police organisations became fully equipped to face the menace of terrorism.

“Some of the issues can also be resolved through talks, as in the case of the NSCN (IM),” he said.