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REGION: Asia-Pacific
TOPIC: Terrorism
Online NewsHour
FORUM
Posted: December 5, 2008

Mumbai After the Attacks

Forum Introduction
Taj Hotel burns after assault; AP photo The recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, took more than 170 lives and have stirred anger at both India's government and neighboring Pakistan.
QUESTIONS
Were there warnings of a possible attack from the sea, and did they just go unheeded?
What good would attacking Pakistan's democratic government do to halt terrorist attacks against both Pakistan and India?
To what extent will there be a rush to blame Pakistan when they may not be involved, and will this rush destabilize the region?
Could you tell me what happened to the Indian victims, and how are they being affected?
Rhesa from Atlanta, Ga. asks:
There's been much talk about this attack being India's 9/11. To what extent will there be a rush to blame Pakistan when they may not be involved, and will this rush destabilize the region?
ANSWERS
Simon Marks responds:
Simon Marks responds:

Well, certainly, as we've just noted, Pakistan has been blamed by the Indian authorities for being behind this attack. The Pakistanis, by contrast, say that no specific details have been provided proving that Pakistan was behind this attack and they say they want to see specifics that go beyond simply leaked reports in the Indian newspapers about what the surviving terrorist, who was detained last week, may or may not have said to investigators.

Could all of this threaten to destabilize the region? Clearly, that is the fear of a number of international observers, including of course the United States, which is why you've seen so much fevered activity by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who visited New Delhi then Islamabad this week, by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, who was also in the region trying to damp down some of the rhetoric that has erupted between India and Pakistan.

And it's worth noting that before these attacks began, the Indians and Pakistanis appeared to be having a slightly more productive relationship; there was some hope that the Indian government was going to be able to be engaged in a diplomatic push with the authorities in Islamabad.

Clearly, the United States and some of its other international partners are trying to get these two sides back down on that path. It's also worth noting that no one that we've spoken to here, this week, has suggested that these two countries are yet on the brink of military conflict.

Next Question and Answer

ONLINE NEWSHOUR LINKS

December 2, 2008
In-depth Coverage: World View


December 1, 2008
After Attacks, India-Pakistan Tensions Resurface


December 1, 2008
Amid Shock Over Attacks, Mumbai Residents Question City's Security




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