Mumbai, India

India is hosting special meeting of United Nations Security Council's counter-terrorism committee, being held on Friday (October 28) in Mumbai and in the national capital, New Delhi on Saturday. On the first day of the meeting, foreign ministers in attendance paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai. 

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Addressing the committee, the country’s External Affairs Minister (EAM), Dr S Jaishankar spoke about the significance of the venue chosen, and said, “Fourteen years ago, on 26 th November 2008, the city of Mumbai was witness to one of the most shocking terror attacks of our times.”  

The EAM also spoke about how this attack “publicly challenged” the UN and its member states’ commitment to combat terrorism and that the task of bringing the masterminds and perpetrators of this attack to justice “remains unfinished”. Therefore the committee gathering at the Taj Hotel is both “special and significant”.

He added, “140 Indian nationals and 26 citizens of 23 other countries lost their lives in a period of four days. In fact, this entire city was held hostage by terrorists who had entered from across the border.” 

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Referring to the series of terrorist attacks in the financial capital over a decade ago when at least 10 terrorists launched coordinated shooting and bombing attacks in five prominent locations in Mumbai including Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station, business and residential complex Nariman House, Cama Hospital, Leopold Cafe, Oberoi-Trident Hotel, and Taj Hotel and Tower.

The EAM also lauded the collective efforts of Indian security forces, civilians and the hotel staff which he said were significant in averting the worse and paid tribute to the 18 police officers and 12 members of the Taj Hotel staff and security that lost their lives in the line of duty. 

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Mumbaikars were going about their daily lives at the aforementioned locations when this attack led to the death of several innocent bystanders on the streets of the city, he added. “It was not just an attack on Mumbai, but an attack on the international community. Nationals of specific countries were identified before being murdered,” said Jaishankar.

Thanking all the members of the UNSC and member states present, the EAM said, “Together, we should send out the message that the international community will never give up on holding terrorists accountable and delivering justice. 26/11 will never ever be forgotten.”

India plays an audio clip of 26/11 mastermind Sajid Mir 

At the meeting, India also gave a detailed presentation on masterminds involved in the terror attacks in Mumbai, including playing an audio clip of Pakistan-based terrorist Sajid Mir. 

Joint Secretary Pankaj Thakur played the clip in which one of the main perpetrators of the attack, Mir, could be heard saying anyone seen moving must be gunned down as he was trying to direct the attack at Chabad House in Mumbai, said local media reports.

According to the US State Department, Mir who was a senior member of Lashkar-e-Taiba was the operations manager for the attacks and played a lead role in the planning, preparation and execution. Earlier this year, he was also sentenced to 15 years in prison for a terror-financing case by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan. 

However, India’s bid to designate LeT terrorist Sajid Mir as a global terrorist at the UNSC was blocked by China, in September. 

(With inputs from agencies) 

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