26th November Mumbai terror strikes re-affirms India’s urgent need for a Homeland Security Body and Strategy to combat terrorism

Nothing can convince me more, as I have been watching television reports on the terror strikes in the south of Mumbai and in some iconic buildings like the 1903-built Taj Hotel (some of whose domes are currently burning due to the grenades lobbed by the terrorists) over the last six hours, that India will continue to be at the mercy of terrorists in bloodier ways in the absence of an effective and efficient Homeland Security body and strategy along the lines of what the United States of America has put together.

As I write these thoughts, news reports say that 78 people have died and 200 have been injured in these attacks.

It is a matter of shame for India, given its history of terrorist attacks, and a matter of pride for the U.S., since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, that not a single attack has taken place nor has been successful in the U.S. because of the streamlined manner in which its Homeland Security Department was established and runs and the commendable way its other security bodies work in unison with the department.

The U.S.’s Homeland Security is defined as “a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do occur”.

The U.S., it appears, has put together three remarkable documents which obviously form the basis of its approach towards a concerted approach towards its national security namely: National strategy for homeland security, National security strategy of the United States of America and National strategy for combating terrorism.

It is totally perplexing that India, a nation which has perhaps faced the maximum number of terrorist strikes by any country in the world, has been dilly-dallying in strengthening its internal security machinery or not learning sooner from the U.S. on how it went about creating such a superb terror prevention structure to protect its people and its properties.

Why did it take so long, till about two months ago when prime minister Manmohan Singh visited the U.S., for India’s national security adviser to learn more about the U.S. Homeland Security Department? Why has India been so ineffective in combating terrorism within the country? These are questions we need to ask in order to learn and move forward.

Having said that, it does not mean that we need to emulate the U.S. totally or adopt its strategic documents word for word. But we urgently need to put strategies and a body together which is in consonance with our policies, democratic principles and, more importantly, our own security interests.

However as long as India continues with its notorious tenacity towards disunity, fractured political interests of political parties and politicians, unenergetic and unimaginative government officials, terrorists will strike harder and bloodier and more innocent lives and the lives of law enforcement personnel will be lost. What India will also continue to lose will be its reputation in the world to protect its people and gain concentrated spotlight towards its stupor.