Mumbai attack was a different kind of terrorism: Mullen

Terming the Mumbai attacks as a new kind of terrorism, a top US military officer said it differed from other such incidents as a group of 10 terrorists brought the two nuclear armed neighbours on the brink of a war.

The joint chief of US Staff, admiral Mike Mullen, who had visited New Delhi soon after the Mumbai attacks said at a conference on "Global Trends and Security" on Thursday, organised by the Princeton University that he was "struck" by the attack.

"I was struck in those attacks by what 10 terrorists could do to two nuclear-armed countries," he said.
 
Mullen said it is a different kind of terrorism. "It wasn't blowing up a building. It wasn't Madrid. It wasn't London or New York or the embassies," he said.

"But that 10 terrorists, supported by a few others, could move two nuclear powers closer to the brink,
 
"They weren't and aren't at the brink, but it speaks to the need to, I think, make sure that, again, internationally we focus on that in a way that de-tensions the potential there, not increases it," Mullen said.
 
The admiral said Qaeda is still there, although it is greatly diminished. In Afghanistan he said the violence has gotten worse.
 
"We need to see governance develop there. We need to improve our security there, security for the people," he said.