TNN
 
Bangalore, Dec 5: Are terrorist training centres in Pakistan luring youths with false assurances? Yes, say Pak-trained militants who operate in India. 

Most Indian youths trained in Pakistan have told intelligence agencies that they developed an aversion for Pakistan for its pro-US stand after the 9/11 attacks.

However, they were lured into training in Pakistan with the promise that they would be allowed to fight on a front of their choice. But, after training, they ended up returning to India, something they didn't want. Agencies are clueless on how to handle this situation.

Intelligence agencies gleaned this information while interrogating Riyazuddin Naser, a SIMI activist picked up in Honnali, and this led to arrest of SIMI activists in Hubli. "In his confession to the police, Naser clearly expressed his reservation about going to Pakistan. We picked up the cue and interrogated many other militants trained in Pakistan. Their response was the same and they didn't have an option but to get trained in Pakistan,'' pointed out an intelligence officer.

In his confession, Naser said he wanted to fight in Afghanistan or Iraq. In 2005 at Mecca, he met Abdul Samad, brother of his friend Shahid Bilal. Samad promised to send Naser to Afghanistan or Iraq. In August 2005, Naser got the green signal for an operation and went to Saudi Arabia, where he was made to stay with Fazil, a Pakistani. Samad made arrangements for Naser and his friend Najibullah to go to Karachi.

"I protested with Samad and told him that I wanted to go to Iraq or Afghanistan and not Pakistan as I was anti-Pakistan for its support to the US after 9/11. Samad told me that to wage jihad, going to Pakistan and undergoing training there is compulsory. I was convinced and on October 1, 2005, I took Najibullah to Jeddah without his father`s knowledge. I was asked by Samad to go to Karachi and meet a person holding a placard bearing the name Usman,'' Naser said.

He was taken to Baluchistan and to Gawadhar where he underwent rigorous training in weapons and explosives. He was also trained to prepare bombs in the mountains near Muzaffarabad and near Rawalpindi, his communication skills like using satellite phones, internet browsing, chatting and e-mailing were honed. In 2007, he was sent back to India through Bangladesh.

"It's the same story with most people trained in Pakistan. The recruits are assured that they can choose where they want to fight but end up coming to India. On their return, they're asked to prove their capability by taking part in one operation in India. After that, their contact will be cut off,'' intelligence sources said.

Most of these youths want to be mercenaries and not at anyone's mercy. Their preferred destinations include Afghanistan, Chechnya, Iraq, Somalia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. "Once training ends, they realize they can't leave India,'' sources added.