Indian soldiers fighting terrorists at Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, in December
There are inputs that terrorists may try to attack soft targets, including schools, in India ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit this month and such strikes are being planned in terror "war rooms" in Pakistan led by the ISI, a top army commander has said.
"The structure of the war rooms is that they are led by the ISI and have representatives of local commanders of the army and the terrorist groups and then they decide which operations to conduct, when and where to conduct - there are inputs that militants can hit soft targets like schools," Lt General KH Singh, a senior army officer posted in Jammu and Kashmir, said today.
He added that there is "every possibility" that Pakistan will try to divert some of the fringe elements of home-grown terrorist outfits to India.
"About 200 militants in 36 launch pads across Pir Panchal range are trying to infiltrate into the Indian side," General Singh said.
On Tuesday, Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag had said that the terror infrastructure across the border is "intact" and Pakistan continued to support attacks in India "despite suffering casualties" on its soil.
Intelligence agencies had warned last month that the terror group Lashkar-e Taiba might plan an attack in India to coincide with President Obama's visit and a security alert has been issued.
President Obama will land in India on January 25 for a three-day visit, sources have told NDTV. He will be accompanied by his wife Michelle.
A final security and protocol meeting on the president's visit is likely to be held tomorrow.
President Obama had in November accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations. The Obamas also plan to see the Taj Mahal in Agra before returning to the US.