NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday raised a question on India's response to the 26 November 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack saying "there was no response." But, this would not be the case if this happens now.
Terrorist group Lashkar e Taiba (LeT) had carried out coordinated attacks at multiple points in Mumbai then.
Speaking on India's response to terrorism and what changed after 2014 Jaishankar said adding Mumbai is a symbol of counter-terrorism for India and the world. "We should not have a repeat of what happened in Mumbai. That there was a terror attack and there was no response".
But, Jaishankar said that things have changed now and India is the leader in fighting terrorism. EAM Jaishankar fielded questions on issues ranging from terrorism to the India-China stand-off and from investment to politics at a press conference held in Mumbai. "There are different views from political parties. When this city (Mumbai) was attacked, nothing was done," he added.
EAM hinted that talks and terror cannot go together saying when we talk of zero tolerance against terror, it is clear that when somebody does something, there will be a response.
"We also have to expose. It is not acceptable that you are doing business during daytime and indulging in terror during the night and I have topretend that everything is okay," he added.
When India was a member of the UN Security Council and chairing the counter-terrorism committee, the counter-terrorism panel's meeting was held in the same hotel that was hit by the terror attack, he said.
India has carried out across-the-border operations and hit terror camps in Pakistan both by the Indian Army and the Air Force in recent years.
Without naming China, the EAM said the disengagement of troops at Depsang and Demchok in Ladakh is the first step, and it is expected that India will return to the 2020 patrolling status.
He, however, stressed the next step of de-escalation won't be taken until India is assured of reciprocity from the other side as well, obviously referring to China.
The disengagement process, as reported by TNIE, is expected to be completed by Tuesday with Patrolling to start from Wednesday in areas of Depsang which were out of reach due to the standoff. Tensions along the Line of Actual Control prevailed since April 2020 with both sides clashing at multiple points and deploying troops all along.
Speaking on Manipur strife, Jaishankar said there are complex reasons for what is happening in the northeastern state, noting that some factors are historical and the rest concern the border situation.
"Claims like the rest of the world would have a problem with India because of Manipur are a political agenda and anti-national agenda. It is not rightto damage India's image in the name of Manipur," the EAM said.
Speaking on Bangladeshi infiltrators, Jaishankar said the last decade saw a transformation in the border fencing which has been strengthened.
"The ease (with which illegal migrants used to enter India) and the number of infiltration has reduced. The Modi government is absolutely clear on what needs to be done to secure borders.
Not just Bangladesh, Myanmar is also being taken care of. We reviewed the open border policy. Border security is being tightened, the EAM said. He said the election in Jammu and Kashmir which saw more than 60 per cent voter turnout is a big statement about democracy. "India won on that day. It reflects people's faith in the scrapping of Article 370 and the hold of separatist politics was broken," he said, underlining the need for deeper integration of Kashmir with India to counter the cross-border terrorism support. "The integration was, however, opposed due to political reasons," he claimed.
Recounting his recent visit to Pakistan for an SCO conclave, Jaishankar said he wanted to make it clear that he was not putting the terrorism issue on the side.
Maharashtra is going to polls on November 20 and Jaishankar was speaking at a political event where he targeted the Opposition. "To implement the Centre's decisions on the ground you need a government which is on the same page as the Central government, trusted by the people of the country and the world," Jaishankar added.
Getting into election mode, Jaishankar said Maharashtra needs a government that is on the same page as the Centre, refuting allegations on the flight of investments from Maharashtra to Gujarat.
He said Maharashtra is a leading state in industry technology and infrastructure, and "Viksit Maharashtra is important for achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat". Jaishankar said not all projects have come to the BJP-ruled states in the last 10 years. "You can't blame the Centre but also have to check your merit,"