The 2008 Mumbai Attack

Unit 2, Item 1: The 2008 Mumbai Attack 

Rabasa et al. (2009) analyzed the attack carried out in Mumbai, India, in November 2008 by Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistani-based terrorist group. The well-planned attack resulted in 172 deaths and achieved the terrorist group’s objectives of increasing tensions between India and Pakistan and “humiliating the Indian security services, causing large-scale death and destruction, and garnering global media coverage for days.” (Rabasa et al., 2009, p. 2) Consider the recent terrorist attacks in Paris (November 2015) and contrast the tactics used by Indian responders to those armed forces in Paris. Look at supplemental readings (Rizvi and Moody ) for tactics and lessons learned that will help with your analysis.

Please read the Rabasa Rand report. Then take a look at either the Rizvi or Moody papers and in a few paragraphs, answer the questions in item 1 below.

Reading Rabasa, A., Blackwill, R. D., Chalk, P., Cragin, K., Fair, C. C., Jackson, B. A., Jenkins, B. M., Jones, S. G., Shestak, N., & Tellis A. J. (2009) The Lessons of Mumbai. Rand Occasional Paper. Retrieved from Here 

Rizvi, S. and Kelly,J.L., June 2015, The Continued Relevance of the November, 2008 Mumbai Terrorist Attack: Countering New Attacks With Old Lessons. Retrieved from Here

Optional Supplemental Reading: Moody, T. (2010). Filling the gap between NIMS/ICS and the law enforcement initial response in the age of the urban jihad, Naval Postgraduate School Thesis, September 2010. Retrieved March 25, 2014 from Here

a.) What factors contributed to the success of the attacks?

b.) What challenges in responding would we face if a similar attack occurred in an American city?