Connecting Mumbai and Kabul

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: One year has passed since the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai. The physical and emotional scars left by those four days have yet to heal, and investigations look set to continue for some time to come.

Although the ease with which the attackers were able to seize and hold high-profile targets has led to some changes in security policy, less has been done to take some of the major steps that India needs to take at domestic and international levels. The full domestic consequences of the attacks can’t be understood until there is a major public enquiry aimed at learning and disseminating the lessons of the attacks and their aftermath, whether or not it takes place after the court trials of attackers and their helpers.

There is much to be done at the level of international relations, too. India’s initial reactions to the attacks were justly praised for their measured and determined steadfastness in the face of serious domestic pressure for immediate action. Since then, much diplomatic energy has been expended trying to gauge Pakistan’s willingness to cooperate with investigations and trials, and to evaluate the possibility of the involvement of its military and intelligence services in training or supporting violent jihadi groups. This focus on Pakistan is key to resolving the immediate questions raised by the 26/11 attacks themselves, but it is only one of many factors involved in ensuring more lasting, long-term security for India. A successful security strategy will require a broader engagement with the geopolitics of the region than at present — but potentially at a much greater domestic political cost.