NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has accused the Pakistan army of helping Kashmiri terrorists move into his state and carrying out terror attacks in collaboration with local elements. Speaking in an interview with a media source, he said, “They are trying to bring Kashmiri terrorists and Punjabi terrorists together... It is not Imran Khan doing it, I am sure, it is his army. So, unless he keeps his army under control, we will have no option but to deal with them.” He cited the neighbouring country's role in terror attacks as the reason behind his rejection to arrive at the ground-breaking ceremony for the Kararpur Sahib corridor last week.
Not holding back, Singh claimed Kashmiri and Punjabi terrorists were tying up for the first time under the Pakistan army's patronage, and students were being influenced too. He said, “We have about 6000 Kashmiris studying in our colleges, good boys and girls, and they are no trouble. But we have busted two terror modules in their midst, one with four people and another with two.” The CM said that while there have been logistical collaborations between terrorists from the two states in the past, this is the first time an “armed tie-up” has come to light.
“We came across them in college, saw them picj weapons, and followed them into their hostels, where we caught them with additional weapons and additional explosives. And this has happened twice. Now, this doesn't mean that all the 6000 youngsters who're studying here. They are very disciplined and everything is going fine there, but terror groups are trying to put people in and mix them up.” He added that it pains him to see students do such things when the Punjab government has welcomed them with open arms. “As I said, they are doing a good job. But four or five students among the 6000 studying here did this.”
Singh said that he could not accept Pakistan's invite to the Kartarpur corridor foundation stone-laying ceremony in good conscience when terrorists from across the border continue to target civilians and security personnel in his state. He however, has no bad feelings for his minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who made a very controversial statement with his presence at the corridor. “Sidhu is not sending contradictory signals, he is a friend of Imran Khan,” he said.
