Navy submits proposals to avoid another 26/11

To avoid another 26/11, the Indian Navy has submitted a document on National Maritime Domain Awareness to the cabinet, the ministry of home affairs (MHA), security agencies, and 11 coastal states. The document highlights the availability of a network of intelligence that can acted upon if shared among all the agencies.

The huge document lists clauses on preparedness, avoidance of a similar situation arising again, and the steps that need to be taken. “Intelligence and information is available in pockets and needs to be consolidated and shared by everyone,” a defence source said. “A grid should be available that can pop up info as and when required.”

Former naval chief, admiral Arun Prakash said the need of the hour is sharing actionable intelligence. “The idea of maritime domain awareness is that the navy, which is the largest operator in the sea, knows everything at all times. By the time intelligence comes in, it is too late. The agency that gets intelligence should share the same,” he told DNA.

Another former naval chief, admiral Sureesh Mehta, who is now the ambassador to New Zealand, echoed Prakash’s statements.
“Ihe boat used in 26/11 was from Gujarat and had gone missing much before the attack. It was known but not flashed across. Had that been done, it could have been used to link up pieces of information and arrive at a conclusion or at least alerted the authorities,” the source said, adding that an MSA might have ensured such sharing of information, which might have prevented 26/11, or at least reduced the chances of it happening.

Incidentally, DNA has learnt that the MHA and Intelligence Bureau (IB) have objected to the navy’s direct involvement with internal security. The ministry of defence also reminded the navy about keeping it informed after the cabinet approached the navy directly.