Terror attacks in Mumbai, Srinagar : Pak designs come to the fore,Indian Politics, News Analysis, India News Online

Last week’s terrorist attacks in the country’s financial capital, Mumbai, and the Kashmir Valley, have made it clear that Pakistan, under Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s leadership has no intention to disallow the use of its territory for subversive activities against India. Investigations into the attacks, which claimed about 200 lives and left hundreds others injured, are continuing.

No terrorist organisation claimed responsibility for the attacks at least four days. However, on July 15, a little-known outfit calling itself Lashkar-e-Qahhar purportedly claimed that it was responsible for the mayhem in Mumbai.

An e-mail, reportedly from Lashkar-e-Qahhar to Hindi news channel Aaj Tak claimed that the outfit was associated with Al Qaeda and the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The e-mail said 16 Qahhar activists had carried out the blasts in Mumbai and threatened more attacks if the Indian government does not stop the ‘exploitation of Kashmiri people.’

The same outfit had claimed responsibility for the bomb blasts in Varanasi in March this year.

Tie up between ISI and Al Qaeda

The fact that Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden has not been captured by the Pakistani security agencies despite reliable indications that he is hiding in that country, shows the informal tie up between the terrorist organization and the ISI. Perhaps the ISI does not want to harm the head of an organization which it had helped to take over the resistance against the proxy rule of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. It is widely known that the Taliban, another Islamic terrorist outfit, was built up by Pakistan to take on the then Soviet-backed Government in Kabul headed by President Najib.

Pakistan had promised to the then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2004 that it will not allow territories under its control to be used for terrorist attacks on India. For some time, there was a perceptible decline in infiltration from across the line of control (LoC) and also in terrorist attacks in Kashmir. But lately Pakistan appears to have thrown to the winds its promise not to encourage terrorist elements based on its soil and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Rather, the ISI appears to have expanded its operations and spread its net beyond Jammu and Kashmir to other parts of the country. To carry forward its nefarious designs, the Pakistani agency has been using its network in other neighbouring countries to mount terror attacks in different parts of India. There are strong reasons to believe that ISI has been using its operatives in Bangladesh and Nepal for its activities in India.

PM warns Pakistan

Pakistan’s encouragement of terrorist elements is clear from the fact that it has not agreed so far to hand over to India terrorists and criminals, including Dawood Ibrahim, hiding in that country after committing crimes in India. Despite requests from India and the demand of the international community, Pakistan has not disbanded the infrastructure for terrorism on its soil and in the areas of Kashmir occupied by it. Training camps for terrorists have not been closed down and are still churning out a steady stream of misguided youth trained in subversion.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who visited Mumbai on Friday, July 14, to oversee the situation resulting from the serial bomb blasts on Tuesday, July 11, has said that the peace process between India and Pakistan would be affected if Pakistan does not stop aiding and abetting terrorism in India which he clearly mentioned “originated from across the border.”

Strongly hinting at Pakistan’s hand in the suburban train blasts in Mumbai, the Prime Minister said “such acts unless curbed will overshadow the peace process.”

Dr Singh reminded President Pervez Musharraf of his solemn assurance in 2004 when he had said Pakistan would not allow any India-directed terrorist activity from its soil. Dr. Manmohan Singh said he had drawn Pakistan’s attention “at the highest level” to the continuing terrorism as recently as the meeting of the South-East Asian countries. He was speaking to reporters at the end of his four-hour visit to Mumbai. Earlier, he visited hospitals and enquired about the injured who were undergoing treatment.

Observing that India’s strength lay in its unity, he said utmost emphasis had to be placed on communal harmony and preventing attempts to disrupt and destroy the country’s unity. Praising the people of Mumbai for showing their resolve not to be cowed down by terrorism, he said, “You have demonstrated your determination in fighting this war by showing utmost discipline and profound sense of courage in rapidly restoring normalcy in the city. The whole nation admires the spirit of Mumbai.”

Contending that “we have to ponder over and work out an effective strategy that such things do not recur”, he said, “We must recognise that the terrorists are trying to spread their tentacles across the country.”

When reporters asked whether India would press for declaring Pakistan a terrorist state, the Prime Minister said that it was acknowledged at various international forums that India was a target of sustained terrorist attacks.

He emphasised on mobilising a strong global opinion. Dr Singh said he was aware of the terrorist outfits involved in these attacks but would not like to mention them as it would impinge upon the ongoing investigation.

The Prime Minister rebutted the charge of intelligence failure. He said the government had macro-level information of possible attacks but it was not easy to say when and where they would take place. He described the seven blasts as “desperate acts by desperate people.” Dr Singh said terrorist modules existing in Mumbai and other areas would be demolished.

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State mourning : Kalam to lead the city

President A P J Abdul Kalam will lead the city in observing silence for two minutes on July 18 as a mark of respect to victims of the serial bomb blasts that rocked the metropolis on Tuesday, July 11.

“The silence will be observed from 6.25 p.m. and Kalam will lead the citizens in paying homage to the 200 people who died in the terror attacks”, said Chief Protocol Official Shilendra Bijur. There will be a siren when the entire city will come to a halt. There will be another siren at 6.27 pm to end the silence.

This is the first time that Maharashtra has taken a decision to pay respect to the victims of a terror attack. Otherwise, the siren is blown in the city only on January 30 to pay homage to the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Kalam, who will be on a two-day visit to the city, will also place a wreath at Mahim railway station.

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India to fight terror till it is wiped out

A day prior to the Prime Minister’s visit to Mumbai, the Union Cabinet met in New Delhi on Thursday, July 13, and adopted a strongly worded resolution to fight the menace of terrorism till it is wiped out. The resolution condemned “in the strongest terms the senseless, inhuman and dastardly” attacks. The resolution said: “We are determined to apprehend and bring to justice all those responsible for the evil acts.”

The Prime Minister discussed the country’s security situation in the country with President APJ Abdul Kalam for about 30 minutes after the Cabinet meeting.

The Government has asked all states to step up vigilance as intelligence inputs suggested more strikes. Security at airports, railway stations, religious places and defence establishments has been tightened. The Cabinet meeting appreciated the role played by the media in helping people retain their confidence.

Paying tribute to the citizens of Mumbai and Srinagar for courageously facing the crisis, the Cabinet noted “the spontaneous response of Mumbai’s citizens to” the situation’s requirements.” Recognising the resolve displayed over the years by the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the Cabinet said : “They have not let (communal) influences impair our national unity and secular fabric.” The spirit displayed by Mumbai and Srinagar demonstrated “very emphatically that terrorism cannot succeed,” the Cabinet said, adding, “Such forces will never be allowed to check our nation’s march to economic growth and prosperity.”

No one can make India kneel

On Wednesday, July 12, the Prime Minister went on national radio and television to say that no one can make India kneel. He said that the “war against terror will be won.” “Let me assure you that the Government will do whatever is required to deal with the challenge at hand. Nothing will break our resolve,” he said.

“These elements have not yet understood that we Indians can stand united. That we will stand united. They have not yet understood that we will never let them win. Mumbai stands tall once again as the symbol of a united India. An inclusive India,” he said in his Address to the Nation.

The Prime Minister added a word of caution for the citizens of Mumbai and Srinagar - urging them not to be provoked by rumours and to stand together as one people. He also used the opportunity to send out a clear message to terrorists and people backing them that terror tactics would not work.

“Let me say again that no one can make India kneel. No one can come in the path of our progress. The wheels of our economy will move on. India will continue to walk tall, and with confidence,” he said.

Death toll touches 200

Meanwhile, the death toll in Tuesday’s serial bomb blasts in Mumbai has touched nearly 200. Hundreds of the injured, some of them in a serious condition, are still recovering in hospitals.

There were seven bomb blasts in the space of just 11 minutes in Mumbai’s western suburbs. The first class compartments of local trains were ripped apart by the powerful blasts. The blasts occurred between 6.24 and 6.35 p.m. at Mahim, Bandra, Matunga, Borivali, Mira Road, Jogeshwari and Khar. The blasts came hours after suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba militants killed eight people, six of them tourists, in a series of grenade attacks in Srinagar. Railway traffic on the Western line - the busiest of the three lines used by commuters to travel to and from work - was at its peak with lakhs of people returning home when the bombs went off.

Train services on the western line were completely suspended, all trains leaving Mumbai stopped and a Red Alert sounded in the city and the rest of the state. All phone lines were choked.

The police claimed to have some clues about two men who they suspect planted the explosives on the train which exploded in Borivali. A fair complexioned wavy-haired youth, wearing a checked shirt got into the Virar-bound train at Bandra and got off in a hurry at the Andheri station. Another suspect is a man who got into the train at Dadar, wearing a police uniform. Heavy rain, barely an hour after the explosions, affected rescue operations.

Mumbai recovers fast ; Life back on track

The resilience of the residents of Mumbai was shown by their march towards normality within a day of the terror attacks. Within twenty-four hour trains started running on the very tracks where bombs ripped through carriages. Office goers, school and college students and workers made their way to different parts of the city.

The most important factor that led to a resemblance of normality on Wednesday, July 12, was the speed with which suburban train services were restored. About sixty lakh people make use of the suburban train services every day. With the fast restoration of these services on the affected network, stranded people could get back to their homes and normal services would start again.

Ham-handed approach of the security agencies

But all is not hunky dory with the security agencies of the country. The blasts brought to light that the state police and security agencies had done precious little to counter such attacks despite an alert issued by the Centre. Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh himself confirmed on Thursday, July 13, that the Centre had sent a general alert on a possible terror strike, but no specific information was provided. He said that the state government took all possible measures, but the terrorists succeeded in their plans.

Observers say that while there may be substance in the Chief Minister’s claim that security around all sensitive installations like places of worship and the RSS Headquarters at Nagpur had been stepped up, there is no going away from the fact that very little was done to protect services like railways, resulting in their becoming sitting ducks for terrorists.

LeT and SIMI suspected

Mumbai police carried out combing operations and rounded up over 300 people from a slum pocket in Mahim on Saturday. The police said all but 11 of them were released and that this was part of the “general flushing out of criminals” and not necessarily connected with the train blasts case.

Reports say two of the 11 suspected SIMI activists, Mohammed Wais Sheikh and Mohammed Wazid, have been brought to Agartala shifted from Malaya village of Kamalpur sub-division for interrogation by experts of the special branch (intelligence wing) of the state police.

Police officials in Kamalpur sub-division discovered that originally the group comprised 12 youths. But one of them, Faisal Ansari, a tablighi, had met with a motorcycle accident after arriving in Kamalpur subdivision and returned to Maharashtra with a fractured collar bone.

The explosives planted in the first class compartments of the suburban trains were time devices. Explosives experts are of the view that extensive planning and usage of powerful and high explosives was involved in the blasts.

A number of terror operatives may have been involved in the bomb blasts. Experts put their number at anywhere from 10 to 24.

Security tightened across the country

Following the Srinagar and Mumbai terrorist attacks, security forces have been put on high alert across the country. All public places including railway stations, places of worship and critical installations are being kept under watch. Security at all airports across the country has been intensified. Visitors are no longer being allowed at airports.

Observers say that the Mumbai attacks appeared to be on the pattern of Britain’s 7/7 simultaneous bomb blasts and the Madrid blasts in Spain.

There are reports that the intelligence agencies intercepted calls made from Karachi to Dhaka just after the Mumbai blasts which said, “Mubarkan, Mubarkan (Congratulations)” in a mission accomplished tone.

Another report says that Rahil Abdul Rahman Sheikh, identified by India’s covert services as the principal organiser of the July 11 serial bombings, may be holed up in one of the several Kathmandu safe houses operated by the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Intelligence sources said Sheikh, along with Zulfikar Fayyaz Qazi and Zabiuddin Ansari, set up escape plans weeks before the bombings. Police have named the men as key figures in Lashkar cells operating out of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi.

Sheikh, a resident of Mumbai’s Grant Road area, handled communication between these cells and the Lashkar’s Pakistan-based commander for operations targeting India, Azam Cheema - the man who would have authorised and overseen the serial bombings. Sheikh was also responsible for funneling Lashkar recruits, raised mainly from the ranks of the Students Islamic Movement of India, to training camps in Pakistan.

Gujarat’s Anti-Terrorism Squad identified Sheikh, along with Qazi, as the architects of the attempted bombing of an Ahmedabad-Mumbai train on February 19.

In March, Sheikh’s name surfaced again after the Delhi Police shot dead top Lashkar operative Mohammad Iqbal, a Pakistani national.

Ansari escaped an intelligence-led operation that led to recoveries of RDX, grenades and assault rifles from Aurangabad. The interrogation of the 11 principal members of the Aurangabad cell, however, established that Sheikh had been among its core organisers.

Authorities are exploring Sheikh’s links with the north Kashmir commander of the Lashkar, a Pakistani national known only by the aliases ‘Bilal’ and ‘Salahuddin.’ In November, 2005, Bilal’s subordinates Arshad Badroo, Khurshid Ahmad Lone and Haji Ramzan were arrested from Mumbai.

ISI prepared the blue-print

Intelligence agencies believe that the blueprint for the Mumbai blasts was made by Pakistan’s ISI while it was executed by local Indian operatives. A senior intelligence officer said the synchronized explosions had the hallmark of an ISI operation. Militants operating in Kashmir are not capable of such meticulous planning and could carry out only suicide attacks and plant explosives in crowded places like markets.

Mumbai police have rounded up over 200 people were questioning in connection with the serial blasts. The state’s anti-terrorist squad is conducting combing operations in Mumbai to nab those linked with the blasts.

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