It is probably one of the worst terror attack India has ever faced. The most challenging one considering that the targets were high profile people. One that looks more sophisticated than what was initially thought as ‘ just another terrorist attack’. Full detail of the casualties are yet to emerge, however the worst part of this attack is going to be the aftermath of this sinister and daring attack. More details will emerge as the day progresses and the situation is brought under control. The information we have so far have pointed to an international angle to the war on terrorism – attack on Indian soil, targeting the rich and famous Indian and foreign people, attackers with origins in Pakistan and possibly Europe using the sea route to enter India – something which has not happenned until now.
Terrorists have been able to infiltrate and launch daring attacks in the financial capital. It shows how vulnerable we people are, to these elements. The threat is real and it just is makes us wonder how many more wake up calls or loss of lives of our people are required before the government does something which is required to be done. The information released so far suggest the involvement of pakistan yet again.
The preparedness of the security establishment and the police in general to such acts of terrorism was clearly exposed. As one of the experts pointed out, the police use weapons which are close to 40 years old and the terrorists use AK-47s and MP-6. Its foolish to expect the police to fight the terrorists with this kind of infrastructure and intelligence. its unwarranted to comment on the effectiveness and the time taken to get the situation under control by the armed forces, as it involved targets which had a lot of foreigners and any mishandling could lead to straining of international relations.
One thing of all these stand clear. Our establishment needs a complete relook and change in the entire country’s security establishment is essential. It has clearly shown the need for a special task force in each state exclusively to tackle threats related to terrorism.It is high time the world understood the gravity of the problem. Rather than dismissing it as yet another act which happenned in India, they should start addressing it by pulling the plugs on countries which host and fund terrorists.
