The Indian High Commission in Colombo has reportedly drawn the attention of New Delhi to the danger of terrorists entering via the sea. The concerns about such intrusions into India have heightened after the recent terrorist attacks of Mumbai, where it is alleged that terrorists entered by commercial hub of India by sea.

“The New Indian Express” (NIE) of today (Dec 20) in news item datelined Colombo, states: “The Indian mission here has drawn New Delhi’s attention to the possibility of terrorists entering India via the sea off Tamil Nadu. This “nightmare scenario” has emerged after the recent attack on Mumbai. Diplomatic sources say several factors make access to India via Sri Lanka attractive to terrorists.

In the prominent news item titled “LeT, LTTE deadly blend rears head” written by V. Sudarshan, Editor of the NIE, importance is given to the LTTE nexus with those engaged in smuggling via fishing boats from Tami Nadu in the waters between India and Sri Lanka.

It also quotes Indian diplomatic sources on the links that exist between LeT (Lashkar –e-Toiba-) the terrorist group suspect of masterminding the attack on Mumbai.

The report states: “Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa told Express that roughly 500 boats trespass into Lankan waters daily. “It is a well-known fact that there is a nexus between smugglers and the LTTE and perhaps other terrorist organisations,” he said. Tamil Nadu has so far brushed off suggestions for a more robust mechanism to deny Indian fishermen access to Sri Lankan waters.

In a presentation to Europol in The Hague this month, Sri Lankan Ambassador to EU Ravinatha Aryasinha asserted that “the LTTE maintains close contacts with groups that have similar interests”.

He referred to the LTTE’s linkages with Afghan Mujahideen as far back as 1987 and, more importantly, that an LTTE team traveled to Kabul shortly before 9/11. He quoted the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Military Balance 2007, which spoke of commercial links between the LTTE and al Qaeda.

He also cited India’s National Security Adviser M K Narayanan’s speech at the 42nd Munich Conference on Security Policy in February 2007, saying both jihadists and the LTTE relied on funds from narcotics trafficking. “These have alarmed intelligence communities across the world,” and that given its global network, the “LTTE could offer its services as mercenaries to other groups”.

According to the NIE report the LeT, through the Jammat-ud Duwa, was very active in Sri Lanka’s East after the tsunami, especially in Ampara and Batticaloa. ”Now, the LeT and LTTE are probably using the same “hawala” networks. If the LTTE is desperate, are they going to be finicky about where they got their arms and what the quid pro quo will be?” the diplomatic sources have added.