GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 6th Dec. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday emphasized India’s transformative approach to defending itself against terrorism, stating that the nation is no longer what it used to be. Speaking at the NDTV ‘Indian of the Year Awards 2024,’ Jaishankar contrasted the current government’s decisive actions with the lack of response after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.
“In the past, India left 26/11 unanswered. We have answered Pakistan with Uri and Balakot strikes,” he remarked.
India’s surgical strike on terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in September 2016 came after a deadly attack by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) on an Indian Army base in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 19 soldiers. The strike destroyed multiple terror launch pads, marking a resolute shift in India’s counter-terrorism strategy.
The Balakot airstrike in 2019 further underscored this shift. It was carried out in retaliation for a suicide bombing orchestrated by JeM in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, where 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel lost their lives.
Reflecting on the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Mr. Jaishankar detailed the coordinated terror strikes by Lashkar-e-Taiba, which targeted iconic locations including the Taj Hotel, Oberoi Trident, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. The attacks spanned three days, resulting in the deaths of 166 people, including 20 security personnel and 26 foreigners, with over 300 injured.
Post-26/11, coastal and maritime security has been significantly bolstered. The Defence Ministry designated the Indian Navy as the authority responsible for overall maritime security, including coastal and offshore protection. The Navy works in coordination with the Coast Guard, State Marine Police, and other central and state agencies to ensure robust coastal defense.
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