Mumbai, India and Terrorism (Terrorism, Hot Spots and Conflict-Related Issues)

On the evening of 26 November 2008, a number of well-trained militants came ashore from the Arabian Sea on small boats and attacked numerous high-profile targets in Mumbai, India, with automatic weapons and explosives. By the time the episode ended some 62 hours later, about 165 people, along with nine terrorists, had been killed and hundreds more injured. Among the multiple sites attacked in the city known as India's business and entertainment capital were two luxury hotels, the Taj Mahal Palace and the Oberoi-Trident, along with the main railway terminal, a Jewish cultural centre, a cafe frequented by foreigners, a cinema house, and two hospitals. This book reviews the most recent major incidence of terrorism in India and its possible connection to elements in Pakistan and considers the implications for both countries, as well as for U.S. interests.