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Tracing the Blame for the Mumbai Blasts

As the Mumbai blasts have been widely condemned, experts in South Asia worry about the future of strained India-Pakistan relations consequent to the attacks. The blasts have been seen as an attempt to shatter the peace process between the two countries. Charulata Hogg, from the Royal Institute of International Affairs, has said the attacks could play a role in aggravating those in India who already oppose peace with Pakistan.

"Much would depend on how much pressure there is on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take a harder line against Pakistan and how he responds to that pressure," Hogg said. "Many in India are already suspicious of the role played by Pakistan`s powerful intelligence services in supporting jihadi groups." Some European newspapers have said that India stands as an obstacle to the "extremist cause", and that this is one of the reasons the nation is targeted by terrorists.

Although the Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, was quick to condemn last week`s attacks, whether or not the Pakistanis had a hand in the incident will remain an issue due to the nature of the ongoing conflict that nation has had with India. There has been a long history of Pakistani-sponsored terrorism against India over the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir.