Indian border guards Monday were put on "high alert" to prevent Pakistan-based Muslim militants sneaking into the country following reports that Islamabad had closed militant training camps.
A defense ministry official said India had to take "every precaution" to foil possible "cross-border militant infiltration" along its international borders with Pakistan.
"It is no secret that Islamabad is under US pressure to contain "jihadis" [Muslim holy warriors]. To assuage the US, Pakistan is now cracking down on militants operating from its soil ... even closing some training camps," he said.
"Our soldiers have orders to be vigilant and on high alert along sensitive border areas in Jammu and Kashmir," he added.
"We will not allow India to be used as a sanctuary for these fleeing Islamic fundamentalist militants."
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has agreed to back possible US action against Islamabad's neighbor and long-time ally Afghanistan over last week's attacks on New York and Washington. He has also put his army on alert ahead of a possible US air strike on Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, India's home minister Lal Krishna Advani reiterated this week that any US strategy to crush international terrorism should take into account Pakistan's role in encouraging it, in tandem with Afghanistan's ruling Taliban.
Advani also consulted Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Monday on the steps India should adopt "to contain the possible fallout" of a US attack on Afghanistan and militant exodus into neighboring countries -- NEW DELHI (AFP)
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