India is on the terrorists radar and faces threats from several Pakistan based terror groups including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Bangladesh based Harakat-ul-Jihad-i-Islami-Bangladesh, says a new US report.

The United States State Department in its Congressionally mandated Country Reports on Terrorism 2009 warned “India remained at risk on the basis of the volume of credible threats the government continued to receive”.

The report also criticised Indian government’s counter threat operative mechanism. “Although clearly committed to combating terrorism, the Indian government's counterterrorism efforts remained hampered by its outdated and overburdened law enforcement and legal systems,” the study added.

The report also mentioned that Al Qaeda’s connection with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was turning the Pakistan-based LeT into a “genuine global threat.” According to the report “Since the 2008 Mumbai attack, analysts have deepening concern that it could evolve into a genuine global threat.”

The US also warned that the politial instability in Nepal could pose a serious terrorist threat to India. “There were no indications that Nepal was a safe haven for international terrorists. Given Nepal’s continued instability, however, there is a possibility that members of extremist groups could transit Nepal, especially into India,” the report said.

The report also warned that unrest in the Terai plains bordering India remained high with the proliferation of numerous armed criminal groups and an inadequate police presence.

The report also noted that the Al Qaeda was actively engaged in operational plotting against the United States and continued recruiting, training, and deploying operatives, including individuals from Western Europe and North America.”

However, the study mentioned that the number of worldwide terrorist attacks dropped in 2009, but rose sharply in Afghanistan as the Taliban stepped up attacks on international forces as well as civilians.

Read the Country Reports on Terrorism 2009