Describing the Mumbai terror attacks as a 'direct strike' at India's economic development, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday warned the hydrocarbon sector to protect assets from the risks from "state or the so-called non-state actors."

"The recent terrorist attack in Mumbai was a direct strike at India's economic development. This unpardonable criminal attack only underscores the risk all countries face from economic sabotage, irrespective of whether these acts are authored by states or merely carried out by so-called non-state actors," Mukherjee said inaugurating the Petrotech Conference.