The insurgency in Northeast India has resulted in 13,500 killings during 1992-2003. The growing bond between the native militants of the Northeast, and the ISI and other foreign-based Islamist organizations encourages not only terrorist activities, but also the fundamentalist attitude.  In a recent report to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the central intelligence agency had cautioned about the ISI’s nexus with underground groups in this region. At regular intervals, the security forces in the Northeastern states remind the Union Government about the growing influence of the ISI and Islamic terrorists who fund religious organizations, institutions and madrassas in the region.

The ISI since the early 1990s started patronizing most of the Northeastern militant groups including ULFA, NSCN (K), NSCN (IM), NDFB, UNLF, PLA and NLFT. All these groups have bases and training camps in India and outside, except NSCN (K). Initially, the ISI established its contacts through Punjab terrorists. The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) established its first contact with ISI through the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka and received two-weeks of arms training in Pakistan in June 1991. The ULFA has since then started procuring sophisticated weapons and getting their cadres trained by the ISI. In NSCN (IM)’s case, its chairman Isaac Swu visited Pakistan on a Bangladeshi passport in April 1990, to procure arms. The NSCN (IM) General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, was arrested in January 2000 in Thailand, when he was coming back from Karachi with Athang Shimrey, his arms procurer. NDFB’s vice- chairman Dhiren Boro, who was arrested in Gangtok on January 1, 2003 admitted the links between NDFB and many of the terrorist outfits with ISI. Arms to these militants have reportedly been smuggled from Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar through Bangladesh, where Pakistan embassy officials and ISI provide assistance.

Almost all the major militant groups established their acquaintance with ISI during early 90s especially for money, arms and training. In August 1999, Major General B.P. Bopanna disclosed the information that some madrassas located in Nalbari and Barpeta districts of Assam were helping the militants by giving shelter during the operation period. In February 2000, the MHA in a booklet titled ‘Bleeding Assam,’ accused Pakistan and ISI of giving training to Northeast militants in guerilla warfare and rocket launching. It has been reported that around 15 Islamic fundamentalist organizations are operating in Assam and other north eastern states. These include the Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA), Muslim United Liberation Front of Assam (MULFA), People’s Liberation Front (PLF), Islamic Liberation Army (ILA), Muslim Security Force (MSF), Liberation of Islam Tiger Force (LITF), Muslim Security Council of Assam (MSCA), United Liberation Militia of Assam (ULMA), Minority Peoples Action Committee (MPAC), Muslim Volunteers Force (MVF), Mujahid Vahini and Jubo Command. All of them have links with terrorist organizations in Kashmir and outside India for moral and financial support. It was reported by intelligence sources that Al-Qaeda linkmen were trying to fund Muslim militant groups in Assam to get safe passage to mainland India through the Northeast.

The ISI has also been attempting to organize a grand alliance namely All Muslim United Liberation Forum of Assam (AMULFA) by unifying several small Islamic fundamentalist organization under one banner. In fact, MULTA, MULFA and LITF have already started operating under the AMULFA. This body in future would be a part of a greater unit called United Liberation Front of Seven Sisters (ULFSS). Already two Manipur-based Islamic organizations, viz. People’s United Liberation Front and Islamic Liberation Army operate under the ULFSS. The ISI intends to create large-scale havoc and panic in this region and ensure the loyalty of Islamic terrorist organizations by forming a grand alliance among these organizations. 

Another striking fact is the direct involvement of foreign mercenaries along with the indigenous terrorist groups operating in the Northeast region. It was reported by the security forces that Bangladeshi nationals were also involved in the Satcharri attack in Tripura district along with the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) that resulted in the killing of 21 people on May 6, 2003. India has been warning the Bangladesh government for harbouring Northeast terrorist camps, reportedly nearly a hundred in number. The nexus between the Islamic political parties as well as newly-born narrow-minded fundamentalist religious organization and these terrorists is also another dangerous coalition. 

Of  around 109 terrorist groups operating in Northeast India, only 12 organizations have been banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. After its failure in Kargil war, Pakistan is now attempting to destabilize India’s Northeast by cutting off the ‘chicken’s neck’ which lies between North Bengal and Assam (a narrow alley between Sri Rampur in Assam and Jalpaiguri in North Bengal) with the help of ISI and Islamic fundamentalists in Northeast and neighbouring countries. The troop strength on the border has to be increased and viability of fencing the border should also be discussed immediately.