Thiruvananthapuram: A top Army official in charge of the southern States today (Nov 19, 2004) said ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) in collusion with fundamentalists and anti-national elements were likely to create problems in the hinterland areas of the country and States like Kerala could no longer afford to ignore the threat.

Activities of ISI were assuming 'disproportionate dimensions' and this coupled with increasing nexus between fundamentalists and criminal fringe elements was likely to create problems in the hinterland areas, Major General Paramjit Singh, General Officer Commanding for Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka said in Thiruvananthapuram.

ISI had encouraged anti-national elements by providing financial, ideological and material support to them. These elements were likely to target those areas where communal passions could be easily stirred up, Maj Gen Paramjit Singh said, addressing the High Level Civil Military liaison conference in Thiruvananthapuram.

Considering its geographical features, Kerala enjoyed a certain degree of immunity from the threat of the adversary. However, certain peculiarities like vast coastline, healthy mix of all communities, presence of sizeable tribal population and porous coastline borders rendered it vulnerable to international disturbances, he said.

There was a need to keep a constant vigil on the development in the neighbouring countries and the intelligence agencies must share relevant information from time to time, he said.