The terror attacks in Mumbai showed the complexity of the anti-terror situation in India and should sound alarms for both China and the international community at large, analysts have said.

"The scale and sophistication of the attacks are unprecedented. The militants have resorted to all means to cause the maximum casualties among the civilians," Li Wei, director of the anti-terrorism research center at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said on Friday.

They also seized scores of hostages, especially those from Britain and the US, he said.

Previous terrorist attacks in India involved planting bombs in public places or taking people hostage, he said.

"This time, it is a multi-pronged approach. It is a well-planned attack in all places and directions," Li said, calling it the largest terrorist attack in India's history.

The counter-terrorism expert urged the Chinese government to learn from India and beef up vigilance in the fight against East-Turkistan terrorist groups in Xinjiang.

"The best way is to take precautionary measures, establish an early-warning system and strengthen intelligence gathering in fighting terrorism and extremism," Li said.

Hu Shisheng, a researcher on South Asia studies, told Global Times that the terrorists not only want to foment unrest in Indian communities but also go after Westerners, as reported by some media.

"This is psychological terrorism aimed at causing panic among foreign visitors, and which will severely hit India's tourism industry, " he said.

Amit Chanda, head of the Indian Subcontinent practice of Risk Advisory, said the attacks were carried out with the militants' "deliberate selection" of foreign hostages.

"This is a statement about India's relationship with the UK, the US and Israel," Chanda was quoted by the India-based Economic Times as saying.

"I think this attack, because of its audacity and brazenness, will be remembered as 'India's 9/11'," he said.

(China Daily November 29, 2008)