During that time, someone called the Maritime Operation Centre in Mumbai and said we have a situation like this please send us the MARCOS. So the first team of 8 that was standing by for offshore intervention was sent.
It has been said that the Navy dilly-dallied. When the Navy wanted specific details before (deciding on strategy for) intervention, whether it was a hostage situation, which is very different from just going ahead and eliminating those guys.
Rescuing hostages is something different. Nobody knew how many terrorists were there, if they were just wantonly killing off people. At that time, we didn't know.
On how an attack like 26/11 hadn't taken place before?
We have. What happened at Parliament? Luckily, they couldn't come in because of how the Parliament is designed and their training wasn't adequate. This time they have not made the same mistake.
The source of the threat is the same -- Pakistan. This time they have penetrated in a better manner, but we have not learnt our lessons. The message behind terrorism is political.
Image: Marine Commandos at the Navy Day celebration in Visakhapatnam. Photograph: Krishnendu Halder/Reuters.
Also read: Pilots need tremendous skill in such an operation
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