India remains vulnerable to terror attack: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI: India is as vulnerable to a terror attack today as it was a few months ago because terrorist groups have forged alliances against the country, Home minister P Chidambaram said on Wednesday.

"We are as vulnerable today, as we were a few months ago. Groups like LeT are now coordinating their action. One of these groups appears to have forged ties with al-Qaida," he said in the Rajya Sabha.

Without naming Pakistan, Chidambaram said even while there has not been any terrorist attack in the last one year, the country cannot lower its guard because "our adversary has not changed its attitude..."

Replying to a debate on the internal security, he said the epicentre of the cross border terrorism is the junction point of Afghanistan and Pakistan and since India is in the region, "we are vulnerable".

Referring to insurgency in the North East, the home minister said ULFA is likely to make a political statement in the next few days and the government is ready to talk to them.

"ULFA is in disarray today. In next few days, the ULFA leadership will make a political statement. Our government is prepared to talk to ULFA provided they abjure violence and there is no demand for sovereignty," he said.