Hizbollah: Yet another headache for Indian intel agencies

Hizbollah has so far remained off the radar of intelligence agencies, which have their hands full as they deal with terror threats from nearly 50 radical agencies that target India, says Vicky Nanjappa

The terror attack on a car of the Israel embassy -- which injured a diplomat, her driver and two others on Monday afternoon in Delhi -- is suspected to be the handiwork of the Lebanon-based, Iran-backed militant group Hizbollah.

The attack comes in the wake of similar attempts at terror strikes on Israeli diplomats and properties in Georgia and Thailand.

Till date, say intelligence agencies, the presence of Hizbollah has been minor in India, with no specific input about a terror attack being planned by them.

Members of the group, however, have visited India to recruit personnel and collect funds. But the terror attack in Delhi indicates that the organisation is capable of carrying out an attack in India as well.

This was no stray attack; it was coordinated and planned to perfection.

Hizbollah has so far remained off the radar of intelligence agencies, which have their hands full as they deal with terror threats from nearly 50 radical agencies that target India.

Security experts point out that Israel is sure that Hizbollah is behind the terror strike, though the Jewish nation should hold back its accusations till Indian agencies complete their investigation.

A similar attack was thwarted at Georgia on the same day and this does point the needle of suspicion towards Hizbollah.

Intelligence agencies also have to consider if Iran is somehow linked to the attack, as Israel has lost no time in blaming it. Hizbollah's operations are presumed to have the backing of Iranian intelligence.

But sources in the Intelligence Bureau clarify that Iranian intelligence is not like Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence, which backs each and every terror strike carried out in India.

Hizbollah is a resourceful organisation with its own funding. Iran, which has cordial ties with India, would not have officially approved of such an extreme action, feels the IB.

Incidentally, while sharing intelligence inputs with the United States in 2007, Indian agencies had mentioned that some groups from Iran were infiltrating into Uttar Pradesh and Delhi and were in close contact with members of the Shia community. But there was no concrete intelligence about any terror attack being planned by these elements.

Investigations have revealed that this was a well rehearsed and well planned attack. The attackers were aware that after the first traffic light, they could follow the Israel embassy's car unhindered as there were no other traffic lights on the way. 

This attack was not aimed at causing mass casualties; rather, it was meant to send out a message. It was a retaliatory strike, aimed at telling Israel that their people could be targeted anywhere in the world.

Carrying out an attack in India will send the message out loud and clear, as compared to an attack on Israeli diplomats in a smaller country. The terror strike also sends out a sorry message about the lack of intelligence and capabilities of the Indian establishment.

Incidentally, there has been a sudden rise in the presence of Israeli counter-terror operations in India. Since the attack on Nariman House during the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, Israeli authorities have been paranoid about the safety of their citizens in India.

According to Indian intelligence sources, many Israeli youth travel to India after finishing their compulsory stint in the military. They gather whatever information they get and inform authorities back home about it.