Mumbai investigation: the operatives, masterminds and enduring threat

Abstract

The shocking attack perpetrated by militants of Lashkar e Toiba (LeT) in November 2008 showed that India can be considered a country of maximum alert regarding the threat of Islamist terrorism. Given the shortcomings of the Indian intelligence services and the weakness of Pakistan´s ones, India remains unprotected against threats stemming from three sources: Indian Muslim communities, terrorism coming from neighbouring countries and the tension in Indo-Pakistani relations. The prospects are quite clear: a growing Hindu nationalism while Pakistan will still be unable to control its territory as a launching path for terrorist attacks. The solution does not lie in accusing to each other and risking worsened relations. Both countries have to meet in a serious attempt to solve existing conflictual problems.