India may be next target of Taliban: M K Narayanan

Narayanan said India is dependent on what prevails in the volatile and difficult neighbourhood

India will be the next target of terror groups like Taliban operating in Afghanistan if they succeeded in capturing power in the war-ravaged country, former National Security Adviser M K Narayanan said here today.

The West Bengal Governor also said what was particularly worrying was that Pakistan shows no inclination to desist from pursuing "high risk" strategies, and it appears determined to support Jihadist elements as a strategic instrumentality to keep India off balance.

Narayanan said given India's location, it is easy to see how the threat posed by terrorism -- most of which emanates from outside the country's borders -- is dependent on what prevails in the volatile and difficult neighbourhood.

"Surrender to extremist forces like Taliban in Afghanistan, and Pakistan's willingness to hold unconditional talks with Taliban have the gravest consequences for us," he said addressing the first Radha Vinod Raju memorial lecture organised on the occasion of National Investigation Agency day.

Late RV Raju was the first Director General of NIA, which was set up in the aftermath of Mumbai terror attack in 2008.

Narayanan, also former chief of Intelligence Bureau, said in Afghanistan and Pakistan, a combination of state weakness and the presence of myriad terrorist groups in both the countries constitutes a direct threat.

"Taliban extremism in both the countries shows no signs of muting itself... The basic weakness in administration there and presence of various terror groups, including Taliban, allowed them to do what they like. If they succeeded in Afghanistan, India is their next target. That has always been the premise and presumption and therefore we need to be on our guard," he said.