World | India
Chidambaram admits 'security lapses' in attacks
India's new home minister admitted yesterday there had been security lapses surrounding last week's Mumbai attacks, which New Delhi has blamed on terrorists from Pakistan.
- Reuters
- Published: 23:46 December 5, 2008
New Delhi: India's new home minister admitted yesterday there had been security lapses surrounding last week's Mumbai attacks, which New Delhi has blamed on terrorists from Pakistan.
The ruling Congress-led coalition has been under fire over what the opposition says is its weakness on security, after a series of bomb blasts this year in cities was capped by the three-day rampage by 10 gunmen in India's financial capital.
"I would be less than truthful if I said there were no lapses," Home Minister P Chidambaram said in Mumbai. "These are being looked into. We will address the causes that led to the lapses."
Chidambaram took over the post on Sunday after predecessor Shivraj Patil quit. Elections are due by May and analysts say Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh must demonstrate decisive action to counter criticism over security.
Underscoring the collective jitters after the attacks, gunshot-like sounds heard at New Delhi's international airport early yesterday sparked a security scare. Police said no one was hurt.
Police and commandos closed down the area by the heavily guarded airport, while an SUV with a lone occupant sped away. Police gave chase but lost the vehicle, NDTV news channel said.
The rampage in Mumbai killed at least 172 people. India has said nine militants were killed and one captured alive, but US analysts said there could have been more who escaped.
"I think there are more. My sources say [there were] at least 23 of the gunmen," said Farhana Ali, a former CIA and Rand Corp counter-terrorism analyst and expert on terrorist networks.
"If that's true, that makes one wonder why we haven't seen more attacks. Are they lying low?" she said. "I think they [Indian authorities] are bracing themselves for more."
David Kilcullen, who has served as a senior counterterrorism adviser to US General David Petraeus and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, said he agreed that there were probably more attackers.
"The Indians said there were 10 attackers, based on the fact that they captured one and killed nine - you have to assume there are more out there," he said.
Indian newspapers said the Pakistan military's spy agency ISI was involved in training the terrorists, who are said to belong to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group that has been blamed for earlier attacks in India.
"The Inter-Services Intelligence connection was clear and evident," the Times of India quoted Indian intelligence sources as saying.
The Hindu newspaper said investigations into the Mumbai attack had led to the names of handlers and trainers of the gunmen and the locations where the training was held. These were believed to be military or ISI men.
Pakistan has condemned the assault, denied any involvement.
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