The United States has alerted New Delhi to a possible Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) attack from the sea on India’s coastal cities including Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The Indian counterterrorism apparatus has taken the threat seriously and the Indian Navy, Coastguard and state police along the 7,517 kilometre coastline have been alerted to a possible Let attack akin to 26/11 attack in Mumbai, reports in Indian media said.
Incidentally, the alert for a possible Pakistani terrorist attack from sea was sent by the CIA days before the 26/11 attacks.
Top government sources said US intelligence agencies have alerted them to a possible strike from Hafiz Saeed’s group either from the sea or in the mainland cities with terrorists crossing over from Bangladesh. “The state police of coastal states have been alerted at the highest level to the threat. We don’t want a repeat of 26/11,” said a senior official.
The official said inputs indicate that the naval wing of the LeT, headed by Yuqub, with top commanders like Muzammil and Abu Hamza are planning new targets in India.
“Fresh troopers have been added. The Lashkar leadership with Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Sajiid Mir aka Wasi bhai and Syed Abdur Rehman Hashim aka Pasha is intact and focused on attacking India,” said a senior official.