EAM Jaishankar Calls For Decisive Action: Lessons From The 26/11 Mumbai Attacks

External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has underscored that India failed to respond decisively following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, which occurred on November 26, 2008.

In these tragic events, ten terrorists from the Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba executed a coordinated assault across Mumbai, resulting in the deaths of 166 individuals and injuries to over 300.

Photo Credit: PTI

During a recent address, Jaishankar emphasized the importance of ensuring that such a situation does not recur. "We should not have a repeat of what happened in Mumbai, where a terror attack went unanswered. Mumbai serves as a symbol of counter-terrorism for both India and the world," he stated, as reported by PTI.

At that time, India was serving as a member of the United Nations Security Council and chaired the counter-terrorism committee. Notably, the committee meeting was held in the same hotel-Taj Palace-that fell victim to the attacks.

Commitment to Counter-Terrorism

Jaishankar reiterated India's current leadership role in the global fight against terrorism, asserting, "People know that India is standing strong against terrorism. We are now leaders in fighting terrorism. When we speak of zero tolerance against terror, it is clear that any act of aggression will elicit a response."

This isn't the first time Jaishankar has revisited the issue of the Mumbai attacks. In a previous statement, he recalled that the national security advisor during the UPA government noted a lack of action post-attacks. "After the Mumbai attacks, the national security advisor of the previous UPA government wrote that 'we sat, we debated. We considered all the options. Then we decided to do nothing because we felt the cost of attacking Pakistan was greater than not doing so,'" he mentioned in April of this year.

Political Ramifications

The BJP, which was in opposition during the attacks, has consistently criticized the Congress party for failing to take punitive measures against those responsible for the attacks. This historical context continues to fuel political debates in India, with the legacy of the 26/11 attacks remaining a pivotal issue in national security discussions.

The attacks on that fateful day targeted multiple locations, including the Taj Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident, and Nariman House. Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist captured alive, was executed in November 2012, but the scars of the incident continue to influence India's counter-terrorism strategy and policy decisions.