Author: S Balakrishnan
Publication: The Times of India
Date: February 3, 2009
The Rand Corporation, a highly-respected US
think-tank, has warned of more terror strikes in India in the "forseeable
future''. It has also stated that the 26/11 Mumbai attack had "local
assistance''. TOI was the first to report about the Lashkar-e-Taiba "fidayeens''
getting local support to carry out their operation. But investigators are
still to explore the local angle.
The warning of future attacks came in the
course of a testimony given by Brian
Jenkins of the corporation before the US senate
committee on homeland security and government affairs on January 28. It is
titled 'Lessons learned from the Mumbai attacks'.
Jenkins said India will continued to face
a serious jihadi terrorist threat from Pakistanbased terrorist groups. "India
lacks military options that have strategic-level effects without a significant
risk of a military response by Pakistan. Neither the Indian or US policy is
likely to be able to reduce that threat significantly in the short to mediumterm.
Most likely, the threat will continue to grow. Other extremists in India will
inevitably find inspiration and instruction from the Mumbai attacks,'' he
observed.
Apart from targeting the high-profile Taj
and Trident hotels, which have a large number of foreigners, the 26/11 attackers
also targeted ordinary people at CST rail terminus, Jews at Nariman Point
and foreigners at Leopold Cafe.
Jenkins said, terrorists designed the Mumbai
attack to do what the authorities were not expecting. "There were no
truck bombs or people attempting to smuggle bombs onto trains, as in previous
attacks. Since attacks against high-profile soft targets are relatively easy
and cheap to mount, such institutions will remain targets of future attacks.
Many of India's older symbolic buildings were not built with security considerations
in mind or are at exposed locations.
Indian security agencies have taken Jenkin's
analysis seriously and are urging the government to take appropriate measures.
