India’s Suspicion Of Pakistan Clouds U.S. Strategy In Region

National Security Guard commandos prepare a rope to tie onto a railing on the terrace of Nariman Bhavan, in Mumbai, India, Friday, Nov. 28, 2008. Masked Indian commandos dropped from helicopters Friday onto the roof of a Jewish center in Mumbai where Muslim militants were holed up, possibly with hostages, as sharpshooters kept up a steady stream of fire at the five-story building. Nariman House, a five-story residential building in south Mumbai, contains the city headquarters of the ultra-orthodox Jewish outreach group Chabad Lubavitch. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan)

From New York Times:

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The terrorist attacks in Mumbai occurred as India and Pakistan, two big, hostile and nuclear-armed nations, were delicately moving toward improved relations with the encouragement of the United States and in particular the incoming Obama administration.

Those steps could quickly be derailed, with deep consequences for the United States, if India finds Pakistani fingerprints on the well-planned operation. India has raised suspicions. Pakistan has vehemently denied them.

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My Comment: To breed out centuries of warfare and mistrust will take many generations, and then even more. But someone has to start somewhere .... and why not now. As long as the U.S. plays a role in which its own interests are paramount .... and both India and Pakistan understand why the U.S. is involved ..... both sides will be able to work with the U.S. in accomplishing goals that are in everyone's interest.