The terror bombing of an Israeli embassy car in the heart of New Delhi on Monday afternoon, which has left a woman diplomat seriously wounded, raises the threshold of militant tactics by non-state actors operating in India, and opens a new vista for terror strikes within the country. Copycat attacks aimed at Indian targets by other protagonists cannot now be ruled out. Our security agencies need to be doubly alert to this new-style threat, more so because the magnetic bomb or limpet mine hit we saw on Monday appears relatively easy or cost-free to carry out. All that is needed is for an expert motorcycle rider to surreptitiously attach a magnetic bomb to the side of a vehicle while going past it. The chances of being detected during execution appear minimal.

The Israelis have officially accused Iran and Lebanon-based terror outfit Hezbollah for the assault and the failed attempt of the same type on Monday in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia. The Israelis might just have a point, although Iran has denied the accusation. The Israeli view could be credible as the Iranians may have engaged in a tit-for-tat. It is widely believed across the world that Israeli agents carried out repeated limpet mine attacks against Iranian nuclear scientists in Tehran, killing a few crucial figures. These strikes initially seemed mysterious but international experts eventually zeroed in on Israel, which aims to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
None of this is quite material to the way we in this country need to look at the problem. The limpet bomb attack took place on Indian soil, and we have to do our best to track down those who may be responsible and bring the wrongdoers to trial. US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has offered help with the investigation. New Delhi can accept such an offer, as it has done in the case of terrorist strikes in the past. We have long-standing relations with Iran, but this cannot deter us from investigating a possible Iranian angle. This is not only because we have a substantial relationship with Israel in spite of our well-known criticism of that country’s position in relation to the Palestinians. At issue here is our battle against terrorism, in which we should be steadfast.
Following Monday’s attack, the powerful American Jewish lobby has urged India to rethink its stance and support sanctions against Iran on the nuclear question along with the US and Europe. We must not be guided by such appeals, and should only apply the yardstick of our national interest while dealing with Tehran, although we are of the view that as an NPT signatory it should stick to its commitment of not aiming for the nuclear bomb.