New York: This is an editorial in today's New York Times.India's government showed extraordinary restraint after Pakistani terrorists killed more than 160 people in Mumbai in 2008. The fear ever since then has been that another attack could spark a war between India and Pakistan, rivals with nuclear weapons.
On Wednesday, Mumbai suffered three more bomb blasts in which 17 people died. Many crucial facts, including the identities of the killers, are not yet known. Indian citizens deserve answers to their many legitimate questions. So far, Indian officials seem to be reacting in a measured and responsible way.
Pakistani leaders condemned the bombings. But words are cheap. They need to work with their Indian counterparts to find whoever is responsible. If Pakistanis were behind this latest horror, Islamabad must ensure that they are brought to justice this time.
Pakistani officials previously acknowledged that the 2008 attacks were partly planned on their soil by Pakistani extremists. Instead of cooperating with India's investigation, they insisted on handling the case themselves. Pakistan has four suspects in custody, but the trial is moving too slowly to be considered credible. Pakistani courts are notorious for acquitting most terrorism suspects.
By Thursday, no group had claimed responsibility for the latest attack. And with so much riding on it, Indian officials were right to not jump to conclusions. "We are not pointing a finger at this stage," said Palaniappan Chidambaram, India's home minister. A senior American law enforcement official said early signs suggested the culprits could well be India-based militants.
After 2008, relations between India and Pakistan plunged into a dangerous two-year freeze. The countries only recently revived a dialogue; we are encouraged that Indian officials say they plan to proceed with talks set for later this month. President Obama has offered American investigative help to India. He and his advisers also need to be having blunt conversations with Pakistan about the cost of any more foot-dragging.
Indians are angry and asking why their government did not ensure their safety. Indian officials say they have made significant security reforms but it may never be possible to stop all terrorist attacks. That is true, but New Delhi still must learn from this experience and keep trying to perfect its intelligence and counterterrorism efforts.
After the 2008 attacks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned that his country would retaliate if hit again. We applaud his continued restraint and urge both sides to think hard about the horrifying cost of a war.