Mumbai 26/11: A Day of Infamy

Mumbai 26/11 saw a mix of commando-style attacks typical of the special forces of an army and indiscriminate killing of civilians, typical of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), the Pakistani jihadi organization. The meticulous planning, the thorough training of the 10 LeT terrorists who carried it out, and the close coordination of the attacks from the command and control of the LeT, had the stamp of Al Qaeda and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, both of which have a close relationship with the LeT. The success of the terrorist attacks, mounted from the sea, highlighted once again the serious deficiencies in India's national security apparatus and the role of Pakistan in the spread of terrorism across the world. Have we drawn the right lessons in respect of both? Can the Indian people now expect at least a more robust counter-terrorism policy to prevent another 26/11?