German intelligence agencies prevented a terror attack in India by passing on real-time intelligence to Indian agencies after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, said Thomas Matussek, new German ambassador to India.
In an interview, Matussek said, ?There is an improvement in real-time intelligence sharing, and thank god for that, at least one terror attack in India has been prevented with inputs from German agencies.?
Asked about the time and type of the terror plot that was averted, Matussek said it happened after the 26/11 attacks but declined to elaborate. ?I cannot share specific details since intelligence agencies from both sides have great trust between them and I have the highest respect for the professionalism of Indian agencies,? said Matussek, who was his country?s ambassador to the UN before he came to India.
?One of the first visitors from Germany after the Mumbai terror attacks was our interior minister who showed solidarity and offered practical help. As an outcome, there is very intensive cooperation between GSG-9, federal police agencies and intelligence agencies with their Indian counterparts… India will always find Germany by their side, terrorism needs a global response.?
In fact, the German national security advisor, Christoph Heusgen, will be in New Delhi next week. He is scheduled to hold talks with his counterpart.
Germany is active militarily in Afghanistan where it is committed to providing 4,500 troops. Matussek feels that the problem in Afghanistan has to be dealt in a ?holistic way?.
?This war in Afghanistan can?t be won militarily. It needs support on the civilian side to let Afghans see the dividends of peace and put ownership back on Afghans,? he said.