Ten years after the Mumbai attack

Ten years after the Mumbai attack

Article:

1. MK Naraynan, Former national security advisor talks about 26/11Mumbai terror attacks and steps taken by India to control future attacks of such nature

Important Analysis

2. MK Narayan observes that 26/11 Mumbai terror is comparable to September 11, terror attacks in the US but it cannot be compared with the Madrid train bombings in 2004 and the London bombings in 2005
3. The most audacious terror attack till the 26/11 Mumbai terror incident in India was the attack on the Indian Parliament in 2001 by the Pakistan-based terror outfits, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
4. About terrorism author observes that it is not a post-modern phenomenon. Although tactics used in 21^st century attacks carried out in different corners of the world by al-Qaeda and its affiliates, the Islamic State, al-Shabaab, and similar terror outfits, are very different from those witnessed in the previous century.
5. The tactics employed may vary, but the objective is common, viz. achieving mass casualties and widespread destruction.

Involvement of Pakistan

6. In Mumbai terror attack the authorities in Pakistan, the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, the Pakistani armed forces, were involved. It is difficult to recall any recorded instance in modern times where a state and its various agencies were directly involved in carrying out a terror attack of this nature.
7. Evidences shows involvement of Pakistan agencies at every stage of attack from planning to provide instructions to the terrorists during the entire four-day siege.

• The involvement of the Pakistani Special Forces in preparing the 10-member fidayeen group was confirmed by one of the conspirators, Abu Hamza, arrested subsequent to the 26/11 terror attack.
• The training regimen dictated by the Pakistani Special Forces involved psychological indoctrination; commando training; training in weapons and explosives; training in swimming and sailing.
• The targets were carefully chosen for maximum impact, viz. the Taj and Oberoi Hotels, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Jewish centre at Nariman House, and the Leopold Cafe, since these places were frequented by Europeans, Indians and Jews.
• Secrecy was maintained at the highest level. Plans were limited to a mere handful of persons. In the LeT hierarchy, apart from Hafiz Sayeed, only a few like Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, its chief military commander, Sajid Mir and Zarar Shah, its communications chief, were privy to the operational plans.

India after 26/11 attack

8. Although Indian security agencies failed to anticipate such attack but in the wake of the terror attack, several steps were initiated to streamline the security set-up.

• Coastal security was given high priority, and it is with the Navy/Coast Guard/marine police.
• A specialised agency to deal with terrorist offences, the National Investigation Agency, was set up and has been functioning from January 2009.
• The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) has been constituted to create an appropriate database of security related information.
• Four new operational hubs for the NSG have been created to ensure rapid response to terror attacks.
• The Multi Agency Centre, which functions under the Intelligence Bureau, was further strengthened and its activities expanded.
• The Navy constituted a Joint Operations Centre to keep vigil over India’s extended coastline.

9. Author however with increased vigil and streamlining of the counter-terrorism apparatus terror attacks may have declined in recent years, but this does not mean that the situation is better than what existed a decade ago.
10. Terrorism remains a major threat, and with modern refinements, new terrorist methodologies and terrorism mutating into a global franchise, the threat potential has become greater. Internet-enabled terrorism and resort to remote plotting is the new threat. Operating behind a wall of anonymity, random terror is likely to become the new terror imperative.
11. Some of the new variants of terrorism are

• ‘enabled terror’ or ‘remote controlled terror’, viz. violence conceived and guided by a controller thousands of miles away.
• ‘lone wolf’ is, more often than not, part of a remote-controlled initiative, with a controller choosing the target, the nature of the attack and even the weaponry to be used.

12. Author suggest that Vigilance is important, but remaining ahead of the curve is even more vital.