Mumbai Terror Attacks 2008 on India-Pakistan Relations and Global Security

Mumbai is the biggest city for entertainment and commerce in India. On November 26, 2008, Mumbai was targeted by a group of terrorists that caused the deaths of 172 people. The attack is often called "India's September 11". It wasn't the first terror attack, but it was just one of numerous. In July 2006, the Mumbai terrorist attack on a train that killed travellers resulted in 209 deaths. According to Indian media that the terrorists chose the sea route for entry into Mumbai. But, some aspects of the attack were significant, such as its indefinable and determined nature, the difficulty of the mission and the number of targets. The terrorists believed that the Taj Mahal and Trident-Oberoi Hotels offered ideal places to kill most foreigners as well as the elite of the locals. They mainly targeted the historic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. After a lengthy effort lasting 60 hours, Indian commandos were able to oust the terrorists, and the situation was managed.

The terrorist attacks on foreigners triggered the media's attention across the globe. The targeted attack on Americans, Britons, Jews and Indians said that Lashkar-iTaiba had planned the attack to achieve a variety of objectives that went beyond the terrorist group's earlier concentration on Kashmir as well as India. The attacks of the terrorists have contributed to the increase in tensions in India and Pakistan, which are a component of their strategy. Mumbai attacks could have severe consequences for India, Pakistan, the United States and, to some extent, even the global community. Regarding India's relationship with Pakistan, Indians are convinced that the Pakistani government backs LeT. India had to react by holding its government in Pakistan accountable. The incident refocused Indian policymakers' focus on revamping their security system, which was likely to increase the Indian military's determination to find methods to punish Pakistan for its actions and deter further attacks.

Even though there is some Indian desire to explore the military, they don't seem to be any military operations that could be considered strategic without a significant threat of military intervention from Pakistan.

Pakistan initially refused to accept the Indian responsibility for the attack. AjmalQasab was from Pakistan, but, in the end, on December 17, 2008, President Zardari rejected the legitimacy of the evidence that proved the perpetrator, AjmalQasab, was a Pakistani despite the admissions of Qasab's father.

According to President Zardari's remarks and the long-overdue response by the Pakistani government to the situation, The Pakistani government's civilian leadership appears unwilling to stop LeT and its front group, Jamaatul-Dawa (JuD). While the opposition embraced by civilian officials is not a stance, it has taken various deferred actions against LeT. On January 7, 2009, National Security Advisor Mahmood Durrani was dismissed because the interview he gave in an interview with CNN that the terrorists were rooted in Pakistan. The spokesman for the prime minister, Imran Gardaizi, explained that he was fired because he conducted interviews with the media about national security matters without consulting with the prime minister. Pakistan was incredibly hesitant to end JuD. However, it did promise to do so following the United Nations Security Council's vote. In December of 2008, Pakistan finally placed JuD's leader Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, a.k.a Hafiz house-arrest and closed 9 JuD headquarters within Lahore, Karachi, Hyderabad, Peshawar, and Mansehra associated with the Mumbai attack, including that of the Jamia Masjid Qudsia which is the principal JuD office located in Lahore. On December 13 on December 13, 2008, Pakistan was forced to ban JuD, an action that Pakistan's political leaders condemned. But, reports have been reported that JuD has been reorganized under a brand new name. The slow response of Pakistan to LeT could be due to several reasons that could be in some way. A portion of Pakistan's Pakistani security establishment believes that the organization is a valuable asset.

Finally, the Mumbai attack in India disrupted the relationship between Pakistan and India. Commerce between the two countries was affected on a large scale. The doors were shut to Pakistani cricketers from India. The most significant aspect of the Mumbai attack was that both countries mobilized their military; however, there was no major conflict.