Megapolises such as New York, London or Mumbai, which are global or regional financial, commercial, entrepreneurial and entertainment hubs, will always remain soft targets for terrorist outfits seeking exposure for their cause by wreaking maximum havoc that will inevitably generate international coverage including on live television. While the authorities in both New York and London have learnt valuable lessons from the attacks on their respective cities and have taken adequate measures to prevent their recurrence, officials in Mumbai unfortunately appear to have squandered away the opportunity by indulging 
in petty games.

A year after the audacious terrorist attack, many of the breaches in the city’s security apparatus remain, making Mumbai as vulnerable to strikes in the future. Coastal security is woefully inadequate, despite the induction of advanced equipment in recent months. There is also an overlapping of authorities entrusted with the task of securing the city’s approaches from the sea.

Similarly, setting up new anti-terrorist outfits while depriving the existing elite force, the National Security Guard of much-needed resources including space, could result in confusion and conflicts in the unfortunate event of yet another attack on the city. A large city such as Mumbai needs an ever-vigilant security agency (not multiple bodies working at cross-purposes) within the existing police framework, which can coordinate with national and regional intelligence and security bodies and implement a fool-proof system to prevent the recurrence of another 26/11.

Terrorism is a global menace that destroys not just government buildings, luxury hotels and installations, but also devastates the lives of ordinary citizens irrespective of their religion and nationality. South Asia has been a victim to this scourge for years, with thousands of ordinary people having been killed in terrorist attacks. It is of utmost importance for countries such as India and Pakistan, both among the worst-hit by the menace, to jointly tackle the terror threat.

Of course, there are extremist viewpoints on both sides of the border that would prefer to see the two sub-continental and nuclear-armed rivals escalate tensions caused by the terror attacks from a war of words into a fighting one. But that is exactly what the terrorists seek — an endless and protracted war that would destroy the region and wipe out the gains of development.

India and Pakistan, both victims of terror, will continue to face even greater threats over the coming years. But to prevent a future 26/11, the two nations should join hands to tackle the extremist dangers and also work towards 
improving relations.