Indian press criticises Mumbai security

The fighting has claimed at least 195 lives

India's English-language newspapers have criticised perceived lax security and the response of the country's political leaders to the terror attacks in Mumbai.

There is an urgent need for better coordination among various intelligence agencies and with the armed forces. This, however, is possible only if we have a major revamp of our security architecture. Many experts have outlined structural changes in the security establishment, like creating a federal agency, a centralised command structure and a nationwide information base with real-time access to security agencies. Besides, various wings of the security establishment have to be made autonomous and accountable.

Tactically, there was no single command structure for the operations being conducted since Wednesday night; this led to delays, crossed connections and redundancies, the cost of each of which could be measured in lives.

It seems to be not India's way to develop immune systems, to establish quick response procedures, and to maintain and keep these systems well greased so that terror practitioners may be rebuffed. Unlike America and Europe, we simply do not possess cohesive social and political systems, and a work culture that is tidy, efficient and prompt.

Last month, the Lashkar-e-Toiba's supreme religious and political head, Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, made a signal speech to top functionaries: "The only language India understands is that of force, and that is the language it must be talked to in." Had India's strategic establishment listened, at least 127 people who made the mistake of being in Mumbai on November 26 would still have been alive. If more carnage is to be prevented, it is imperative to understand the culture of strategic deafness that facilitated the murderous attacks.

Terrorist groups represent a degree of threat and commitment that runs counter to the attention span of most election cycle-driven politicians. Building a commonality of purpose within India's leadership is beyond legislation. Until the security process is seen as immune to partisanship and treated as equally important by each successive government, India's answer to terror's implacability will continue to be the talk cycle.

Security here, unlike in the US, Britain or Israel, is so lax that terrorists are free to come and go and do as they please. There is considerable substance in the second charge. But far from being the fault of any one political party, casualness about routine precautions, the insistence on exceptions and obsession with hierarchy are integral features of Indian life.

The Pakistan government cannot get away by claiming that it had no knowledge of the terrorists operating from its territory. Pakistan is welcome to send its ISI [Inter-Services Intelligence] chief to brief India but it is unlikely to satisfy the people of India so long as the Jihadi elements find a haven for themselves in Pakistan.

BBC Monitoringselects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.

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