Foreign Policy Blogs

Nuclear sites put on precautionary alert

The Indian government has put all its nuclear sites on high alert following reports of David Headley’s visits to those states and other intelligence reports. The Press Trust of India, quoting a senior home ministry official reports, “the step is precautionary in nature. The states have been asked to increase the vigil and patrolling to thwart any sabotage attempt aimed at these vital facilities.”Nuclear sites put on precautionary alert

With the anniversary of the November 2008 terror attacks that killed some 166 people around the corner, the possibility of another attack is being expressed. Nuclear facilities and research centers are considered possible targets and security and patrolling is being increased. In the meanwhile the government has maintained that all nuclear facilities are adequately secure and these are only additional measures.

David Headley was recently arrested by US authorities on suspicion of planning terror attacks in Denmark. Since then it has been revealed that Headley possibly had direct contacts with the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. He traveled extensively in India on fake documents and stayed at the Taj Hotel just days before it was attacked last year. Though the Indian authorities are still investigating his involvement, they are said to be sure of his relation with the Lashkar-e Taiba (LeT). According to the FBI Headley was “in touch with senior LeT operatives and other top terrorists in Pakistan, including Ilyas Kashmiri, a terrorist with links to Al-Qaeda and the Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami (HUJI), a Pakistan-based terrorist outfit.”  He also mentioned the National Defense College in New Delhi as a target during interrogation. Though India does not have an extradition treaty with the US, it plans to seek Headley’s extradition to probe his involvement in the 2008 attacks. Indian authorities are aggressively investigating Headley’s movements and links in India and hope that he provides the missing links in last year’s terror attacks.

 

Author

Manasi Kakatkar-Kulkarni

Manasi Kakatkar-Kulkarni graduated from the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy. She received her degree in International Security and Economic Policy and interned with the Arms Control Association, Washington, D.C. She is particularly interested in matters of international arms control, nuclear non-proliferation and India’s relations with its neighbors across Asia. She currently works with the US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC).