Against the backdrop of Pak-based terrorists using sea route for the Mumbai strikes, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said the country faces such threats not only in the Arabian Sea but also in the Indian Ocean and there was need for credible strategies to counter them.
The Mumbai attacks have highlighted the need for heightened vigilance and response to asymmetric threats from the sea, he said adding "we face such threats not only in the Arabian Sea but also in the Indian Ocean".
Opening the Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala, about 40 km from Kannur on the Arabian Sea coast, he said "there is a marked increase in the attempts by various terrorist and other groups to use the blue waters around India for nefarious purposes. This is a matter of concern.
"It is essential for the Navy, Coast Guard and the intelligence agencies to coordinate their efforts much more closely. We need to develop credible strategies to counter all threats from the sea."
Maintaining that Indian Navy must have a much greater role in safeguarding the country's vital security interests, he said the emerging maritime security environment greatly enhances Navy's responsibilities.
He said the importance of the Navy in safeguarding India's vital interests has become paramount and there can thus be no doubt that the Indian Navy must be the most important maritime power in this region.
{{/usCountry}}He said the importance of the Navy in safeguarding India's vital interests has become paramount and there can thus be no doubt that the Indian Navy must be the most important maritime power in this region.
{{/usCountry}}"On its part the government will take all necessary measures to ensure that the Coast Guard and the Navy are fully equipped to protect the seas and oceans around us," he said.