The 13/2 terrorist attack against the Israeli diplomat exposes India to the possibility of a more potent and professional group, which may have already raised the capability levels of indigenous terror cells and created a threat which is both real and potent.

While much was promised once the city regained its balance after the attacks, on the third anniversary of this horrific incident, still a lot remains unsaid and undone.

Left behind will be a quasi-theocratic Afghan state compelled to accommodate Talibani-style cultural medievalism and a Pakistani state teetering on the brink of political self-destruction and social chaos.

The need of the hour is to devise a counter-terrorism strategy which is well-coordinated and led by specialized units with superior intelligence-gathering and assessment skills.

With India’s security apparatus once again standing exposed and the security overhaul envisaged after 26/11 being still a work in progress, it is time for some harsh introspection.

Although on the ground the areas of conflict are specific and do not cover the entire landmass as a map would indicate, the incoherence of the state’s response makes it appear that India is at war with itself.

Al Qaeda and the Taliban seem to be seeking to force Berlin to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by plotting terror attacks in Germany.