India: A Political Response Begins to Form

Five days after the militant attacks in Mumbai began, the Indian government's response is beginning to take shape Nov. 30. India must react forcefully — and any reaction will be aimed at Pakistan, given the growing body of evidence that Pakistanis were involved in the attacks. However, India cannot afford to shatter the already-weak Pakistani state while the United States needs Pakistan to at least hold together in order to make progress in counterterrorism operations. India's ruling Congress party is not likely to survive the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks if it does not act more aggressively than it has thus far.