The recent terror attack in broad daylight in the heart of New Delhi is a lapse on the part of India’s security machinery. The attack occurred in the diplomatic zone near the Prime Minister’s residence and the Israeli embassy. The bomb attack on the car of an Israeli mission staffer, Tal Yohoshua Koren and the wife of an Israeli diplomatic official was a regrettable outrage. The attacker was on a motorbike, well-trained and familiar with the area of his operations. The nature of the attack exposes new chinks in the armour of India’s internal security. Israeli and Iran are trading allegations. New Delhi is in a diplomatic quandary. It has friendly relations with both Israel and Iran as it does with several Arab states. India’s interests are tied up with those of all these Arab countries. Israel contributes significantly to India’s defence. 50, 000 Israelis visit India annually. Whether or not Indian politicians differ on the Israeli issue, no violence had been perpetrated against them or Jews in the past.
India has to be on its guard to insulate itself from the West Asian hostilities, between Israel and Iran or Saudi Arabia and Iran. Mere diplomatic gestures will not suffice.Union Home Minister P Chidambaram’s ‘sitting on the fence’ attitude may not go very far. The Iranian involvement in terrorism in the Indian capital carries a sinister portent. The West Asian scene is hotting up day after day and the ripple effect is bound to hit India. That calls for particular attention on the part of the Indian government to tightening up the internal security system in the country.