Less than 10 Indians keen on joining, Muslim leaders denounced IS: NSA Doval

New Delhi National Security Adviser NSA Ajit Doval Saturday said there were fewer than 10 cases of Indian youth wanting to join the Islamic State and Muslim leaders in India had unanimously come out against the jihadist groupAddressing the HT Leadership Summit Doval also said Pakistan was using terrorism as an instrument of state policy and that India will have to prepare for a twofront war one engaged diplomatically and economically with the two nucleararmed neighbours China and Pakistan and also build up its deterrenceOn cases of Indian youth being drawn to the IS he said We know for certain at least five or six cases where some youth showed inclination but their parents went to police and the intelligence agencies and sought their help to prevent their wards from joining the ISHe said there were two confirmed cases one of a youth who died and of another youth But the total number was below 10Doval said the most important factor was that Muslim leaders unanimously denounced the jihadist groupNot even one Muslim religious leader has supported the IS All of them have issued fatwas against it saying it is wrong and given a very very strong message against it and that it should not be done he saidThe former top intelligence official said he very strongly feels that despite the threat posed by the IS and the Al Qaeda and their wish to bleed India the inherent strength of the country is so strong that it is not going to degrade the countryIndian society has taken it in its stride They can bleed us but if anyone thinks India has been degraded it is mistaken Indias inherent strength is beyond physical he saidMentioning Pakistan and China he said the two are nuclear powers both do not have any representative democratic form of government both have adversity towards IndiaHe said the focus was on increased economic engagement with China and Pakistan and also to use soft power without losing out in national security interestHe said the electioneering in Kashmir for the assembly polls was peaceful and there has been least violence in the state so farPakistan is using terrorism as an instrument of state policy We have to prepare for a situation of twofront war The challenge is to engage them diplomatically create economic interdependence and engage in various other fields and at the same time build our deterrence capabilityTo a question on construction activities by China in Pakistanadministered Kashmir he said India has taken up the issue with both countries from time to time and the government should prepare itself for related consequencesHe said cyber space was increasingly becoming the new front for warIncreasingly depending on modern means of communication of transferring money even chemical and biological weapons we have to be prepared for thatHe said India will have to focus on technological upgrade especially indigenous to meet future challengesOn upgrading of the weapons systems Doval said it is not a matter of great pride to be called the largest weapons importer in the world It is a matter of great disgraceHe said the most important factor will be if India achieves nine percent economic growth which will ensure sustainable surpluses to provide for forces a strong economy will serve the countryFor this manufacturing should be given highest priority as that will fetch highest number of jobsIndia is at the cross roads globally there is an environment where people want India to rise people want to engage with India and wants us to address their issues We should make use of this opportunity he saidDoval said the present government was strong with considerable clout in the international arena with a large youth population and a huge diaspora