Securing the Indian coastline
Now that Gujarat is on high alert following the discovery of two single-engine Pakistani boats abandoned at Harami Nala creek by the BSF, the warning of then Navy Chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba comes to mind. He had warned of terrorists being trained to conduct anti-India operations through the sea. A few months ago, New Delhi refuted Islamabad’s claims of an Indian submarine being found in its waters in the Arabian sea. After the abrogation of Article 370, the Indian Navy has been on the alert for a possible terror strike through the 7,514 km coastline, senior officials said. Security has been beefed up on the eastern and western seaboard. https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1166965134901702656?s=20 India’s chain of coastal radars and Joint Operations Center (JOC) are connected to the Information Management and Analysis Center (IMAC) in Gurugram. According to former Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lamba, this region has always been fraught with conflict. He had also warned the international community against the fast-evolving nature of local terrorist groups, saying that these regional issues tend to snowball into serious international concerns in no time. Also Read: Possibility of the terrorist attack in Gujarat by Pakistan, BSF, Indian Coast Gaurd on High Alert Terrorists who perpetrated the 1993 Mumbai blast used RDX smuggled in through the sea route. In 2008, LeT terrorists, including Ajmal Kasab, came to Mumbai from Karachi via the sea. Now, two abandoned Pakistan boats have been found at the Gujarat coast. Given India’s sensitive geographical location, maritime security cannot be compromised. In fact, India has been attacked via the sea route for most of its history. With terrorists using increasingly advanced technology and even social media to further their nefarious designs, gaps in security will have serious consequences. -PTC News
