17 years on, 26/11 Mumbai terror attack remains a wound but India now not the same under PM Modi

Seventeen years after the night that changed India forever, the memory of 26 November 2008 still stings like a fresh wound. The gunfire that ripped through Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the flames that engulfed the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, the fear at Leopold Café, Nariman House, and Cama Hospital, all remain etched in the collective conscience of the nation. 

More than 166 innocent lives were lost and over 300 were injured during the 72-hour siege carried out by ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists who reached Mumbai by sea. Families still mourn. Survivors still speak through tears. Every year, candles lit along Mumbai’s shoreline flicker like silent questions...How did this happen? Could we have been prepared?

A Nation That Refused to Forget

In the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attack, India was forced to confront its vulnerabilities- fractured intelligence mechanisms, poor coastal surveillance, outdated counter-terror preparedness and slow response systems. The sacrifice of officers like ATS Chief Hemant Karkare, Additional Commissioner Ashok Kamte, and Encounter Specialist Vijay Salaskar, and the courage of NSG commandos remain symbols of bravery amid chaos.

But grief soon turned into determination. Over the years, India rebuilt its security structure, brick by brick, layer by layer.

Stronger, Sharper, and More Decisive Today

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the nation has taken a far more assertive and uncompromising stance on terrorism. India now follows a zero-tolerance doctrine, making it unequivocally clear that terror will never go unanswered and those who shelter it will pay a price.

Two major examples underline the shift:

- The 2016 Surgical Strikes across the Line of Control, eliminating terrorist launch pads after the Uri attack, sent a firm message that India would no longer be passive.

- The 2019 Balakot Airstrike targeted a major JeM training camp deep inside Pakistan following the Pulwama attack, marking the first time Indian fighter jets crossed the international border for a counter-terror operation in decades.

You May Like: Pulwama attack and India's retaliation: Key facts about the strategic revenge you should know

Both actions demonstrated a new national confidence, one rooted in capability, resolve and international support.

Better Prepared, Better Equipped Under PM Modi's Leadership

Now, India has:

- Strengthened coastal protection with high-tech radar grids and joint patrolling.
- Expanded and empowered the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
- Improved intelligence coordination through real-time data integration.
- Modernized the NSG with regional hubs and improved rapid deployment.
- Enhanced international counter-terror partnerships.

Seventeen Years Later - Unbowed, Unbroken

Today, the fear of 2008 has transformed into vigilance and unity. India stands more prepared than ever, more determined than ever, and more united than ever.

As the nation bows its head in honour of the martyrs, it lifts its chin in pride, knowing that the India of 2025 is not the India of 2008.

The message to the world is clear-- attack us, and we will respond, respond harder!