Mumbai

Three good articles on the Mumbai attacks:

M K Bhadrakumar looks at the big picture, India/Pakistan/US/China relations, and the tensions that need to be managed.

Syed Saleem Shahzad says the operation was supposed to be an attack in Kashmir that was hijacked by al-Qaida. He also points out that there is now rioting in Karachi, something you would need to dig out of the US press, and that there was a successful attack on a transport hub in Peshawar by the Taliban.

Paul Rogers examines the pattern of similar attacks since 9/11, and how the Mumbai attack represent an escalation of planning, execution, and results. The fact that ten or so people can bring India and Pakistan to the brink of war shows the fundamental instability of the region, and the precariousness of US policies to avoid such a war.

al-Qaida or al-Qaida like attacks usually follow a pattern of multiple targets and high civilian casualties by design. However, they seem to be one-time affairs, they either lack the capability, or do not want to try follow-up attacks. Hopefully that will continue, as another attack on India now might precipitate a disaster with immense consequences.