US alert on 26/11-type strikes along western coast

US intelligence agencies have alerted the Union home ministry about possible  26/11-type terrorist strikes on coastal states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka. The warning came a few weeks ago, home ministry sources said.

The alert points to two possible scenarios. One is a sea-borne attack originating from the Iranian port of Chabahar, a free-trade area being developed with assistance from New Delhi, said the sources. The port is a hub for fishing trawlers, especially those belonging to a Pakistani syndicate.  The other scenario is that Pakistani terrorists could seize Indian fishing trawlers and use them to strike.

The two possibilities have been discussed by Indian agencies over the past few days. Navy sources say it is almost impossible for terrorists to travel all the way from Chabahar to Mumbai, or to another city on the Indian coast, to launch an attack. It would take a minimum of four days to travel through the high seas, which are regularly patrolled by world navies because of heightened piracy activities in the area.

The BSF has also raised an alert about a possible intrusion by terrorists through the Sir Creek area. According to the BSF, the disputed area is the most vulnerable spot, and it would only take a few hours for a group of terrorists to sneak into India from the Pakistani side.